Photo: Getty Images South America
Brazilian police successfully thwarted a bomb plot targeting a Lady Gaga concert at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, which drew over two million attendees on Saturday, May 3rd. The Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro, in coordination with the Justice Ministry, uncovered the plan orchestrated by a group promoting hate speech and radicalizing teenagers through violent and self-harm content.
The suspects posed as members of Lady Gaga's fan base, the "Little Monsters," recruited participants, including minors, to execute coordinated attacks using improvised explosives and Molotov cocktails. The operation stemmed from a tip-off to Rio state police intelligence, which led to the discovery of digital cells encouraging extremist behavior among teenagers.
Authorities arrested the group's alleged leader in Rio Grande do Sul for illegal firearm possession and detained a teenager in Rio de Janeiro for possessing child pornography. Over a dozen search and seizure warrants were executed across the states of Rio de Janeiro, Mato Grosso, Rio Grande do Sul, and Sao Paulo. The police conducted the operation quietly to avoid public panic and ensure the concert proceeded without incident.
In a statement to multiple outlets, police said of the incident, "The suspects were recruiting participants, including minors, to carry out coordinated attacks using improvised explosives and Molotov cocktails."
The Justice Ministry emphasized that the group's online activities falsely represented them as "Little Monsters" to lure teenagers into networks promoting violence and self-destruction. Lady Gaga's publicists and concert promoters have not yet commented on the incident.
Lady Gaga has not made any public statement about the foiled bomb plan, but shared several photos and a lengthy heartfelt message to fans.