Brazil police arrest two suspects over Lady Gaga gig bomb plot

Monday 05 May 2025 - 13:01

By: Zahouani Ilham

Brazil police arrest two suspects over Lady Gaga gig bomb plot

Brazilian authorities have arrested two individuals in connection with a planned bombing during a Lady Gaga concert in Rio de Janeiro, which drew over two million attendees. The Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro announced on social media that they had successfully thwarted the attack intended for the free concert held at Copacabana Beach on Saturday.

The arrests, which took place during an operation named "Fake Monster" a nod to Lady Gaga’s fanbase known as "Little Monsters" involved an adult and a teenager. The suspects had reportedly recruited people online to carry out attacks using improvised explosives, aiming to gain social media notoriety.

In a coordinated effort with the Ministry of Justice, police conducted raids in multiple states, including São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, and Mato Grosso. Authorities believe the suspects targeted Brazil's LGBTQ community, as their attack was reportedly motivated by sexual orientation.

Rio Police Chief Luiz Lima revealed that the group behind the plot spread hate speech and violent content online to attract more viewers, particularly teenagers and children.

Despite the arrests made in the hours leading up to the concert, the event proceeded without disruption, with an estimated 2.1 million people attending. A representative for Lady Gaga confirmed that the star and her team were unaware of the safety threats before and during the concert, only learning of the danger the following day.

Tight security measures were implemented, with 5,200 police and military officers deployed to ensure the safety of the event, where attendees celebrated the singer’s hits, including "Born This Way," a song recognized as an LGBTQ anthem.