Lady Gaga Concert Bomb Plot Thwarted in Brazil

Brazil police foiled Lady Gaga concert bomb plot by extremists targeting LGBTQ+ and children; arrests made after tip-off, hate speech uncovered.

Lady Gaga Concert Bomb Plot Thwarted in Brazil

• The Event: A free Lady Gaga concert on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Over two million attendees.
• The Threat: Brazilian police thwarted a planned bomb attack targeting the concert.
• The Plot: Suspects recruited individuals to carry out attacks using improvised explosives, aiming for social media notoriety.
• Arrests: Police arrested the alleged mastermind and a teenager. The mastermind was arrested for illegal firearm possession and the teenager for storing child pornography.
• The Group: The group was allegedly spreading hate speech, particularly targeting children, adolescents, and the LGBTQ+ community. They were also promoting the radicalisation of teenagers.
• Lady Gaga's Reaction: Her team learned of the threat from media reports after the concert. They stated there were no known safety concerns communicated to Lady Gaga or her team prior to or during the show.
• The Investigation: "Operation Fake Monster" was launched following a tip-off, uncovering online groups encouraging violence among teenagers using coded language and extremist symbolism. Search warrants were issued in multiple states, and electronic devices were seized.
• Security Measures: 5,000 officers were deployed, with metal detectors, drones, and facial recognition cameras in use.
• Economic Impact: The concert was intended to revitalize Rio's economy, with an expected income of $100 million.
• The Performance: Lady Gaga last performed in Brazil in 2012 and wore Brazil-themed costumes during the concert.
• Justice Ministry Statement: The suspects identified as Lady Gaga fans, known as "Little Monsters"