Brazilian authorities report they thwarted a bomb plot targeting a Lady Gaga concert held on Copacabana beach Saturday night, leading to the arrest of two people. Police said the plan involved using improvised explosives at the free event, which drew a crowd of over two million people.
Police in Brazil identified the suspects as a man described as the group's leader and a teenager. The man was arrested in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul on illegal weapons possession charges. The teenager was detained in Rio on child pornography charges. Authorities did not detail the exact roles the two played in the alleged plot.
According to police, the group disseminated hate speech online, primarily targeting children, adolescents, and the LGBTQ+ community. Felipe Cury, secretary of the Rio police, stated that the suspects explicitly planned an attack at the Lady Gaga concert motivated by sexual orientation.
Luiz Lima, Rio Police chief, said the group used online platforms to recruit participants, including teenagers. They aimed to gain notoriety by spreading violent content.
The Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro state, in coordination with the justice ministry, launched an operation following a tip-off uncovering online groups encouraging violence among teenagers with coded language. Search warrants were executed across the states of Rio de Janeiro, Mato Grosso, Rio Grande do Sul, and Sao Paulo. Electronic devices and other materials were seized.
Authorities chose not to disclose the threat before the show, stating they sought to avoid panic among the large crowd. Serious security concerns have led organizers to cancel massive events elsewhere.
A spokesperson for Lady Gaga told media outlets that the artist and her team learned about the alleged threat through news reports the morning after the show. The spokesperson added that the team worked closely with law enforcement throughout the planning and execution of the concert and felt confident in the safety measures deployed.
Police said the group involved sought to carry out attacks using improvised explosives and Molotov cocktails. One suspect whose home was raided near Rio reportedly had a religious motivation and called the singer a "Satanist." The justice ministry determined the group posed a risk to public order and falsely presented themselves as Lady Gaga fans online to lure teenagers into networks promoting violent content.
The concert was Lady Gaga’s largest show ever and part of a tour promoting her eighth album, Mayhem. She had not performed in Brazil since 2012.
Lady Gaga later expressed gratitude for the massive crowd on social media. “Nothing could prepare me for the feeling I had during last night’s show — the absolute pride and joy I felt singing for the people of Brazil,” she wrote. “The sight of the crowd during my opening songs took my breath away. Your heart shines so bright, your culture is so vibrant and special, I hope you know how grateful I am to have shared this historical moment with you.”