Brazilian authorities say they successfully thwarted a bomb plot aimed at Lady Gaga’s free concert on Copacabana Beach, which drew a crowd of over two million people on Saturday. The suspects, including an adult and a teenager, allegedly planned to use improvised explosives in an attack designed to gain notoriety on social media.
Police stated that the group behind the plot had promoted hate speech, particularly against children, teens, and LGBTQ+ individuals, and had been radicalising minors online. The primary suspect was arrested for illegal firearm possession, while the teenager was detained for storing child sexual abuse material.
Dubbed “Operation Fake Monster,” the investigation uncovered online forums using extremist codes and symbols to encourage violence and self-harm among teens. Despite the magnitude of the threat, Lady Gaga’s team said they were unaware until learning of it through media reports after the concert.
The singer’s performance was part of a campaign to boost Rio’s economy and was backed by tight security measures including metal detectors, facial recognition, and 5,000 police officers. The event was reportedly expected to generate $100 million in revenue for the city.
