A major tragedy was narrowly averted over the weekend in Rio de Janeiro, as Brazilian police revealed they had thwarted a planned bomb attack targeting Lady Gaga’s free mega-concert on Copacabana Beach.
The concert, which drew a staggering crowd of up to two million fans, was the subject of an alleged plot by individuals who police say were looking to gain viral fame through violent means.
Authorities announced on Sunday that two suspects — an adult and a teenager — had been arrested in connection with the foiled attack.
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According to Rio’s civil police, the operation was carried out “together with the ministry of justice.”
The Police also revealed that the operation, code-named “Fake Monster” was an homage to Gaga’s fanbase, the “Little Monsters”.
Officers said the suspects were using online platforms to recruit others and plan “attacks using improvised explosives.”
“The commission prevented a bomb attack that would have occurred at Lady Gaga’s concert in Copacabana,” Rio police confirmed on X.
The suspects were reportedly motivated to gain notoriety on social media.
Police launched coordinated raids across four Brazilian states — Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, and Mato Grosso — to track down those involved in the conspiracy.
The concert, held on Saturday night, marked Lady Gaga’s triumphant return to Brazil and was the second major beachfront performance in Rio within a year, following Madonna’s record-setting concert in 2023.
In light of the threat, authorities had significantly ramped up security for the event, deploying around 5,000 officers, drones, surveillance tech, and facial recognition systems to monitor the massive crowd.
Thanks to the swift intervention by law enforcement, what could have been a devastating night ended in celebration, as fans enjoyed an unforgettable performance from the global pop icon.
