A bomb plot aimed at Lady Gaga’s historic concert at Copacabana Beach was averted by Brazilian police, authorities confirmed on Saturday.
The free show participating by over 2.1 million fans became the largest concert in Rio de Janeiro’s recent story, but it was almost destroyed by an attempted terrorist attack orchestrated by a radical online group.
According to Brazilian federal police, the suspects behind the foiled plan were part of a network that promotes hate speech, violent extremism and radicalization of teens.
The group allegedly used social media platforms to spread coded language and extremist symbols encouraging minors to participate in a “collective challenge” involving improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and Molotov cocktails, per. Daily Mail.
As for this, police said in a statement, “the suspected recruited participants, including minors, to carry out coordinated attacks.”
Authorities believe that attackers were trying to get notorious on social media through violent disruption.
The Brazilian Department of Justice revealed that some of the suspects identified themselves as members of Gaga’s global fanbase, “Little Monsters”, which used this association as a cover to recruit vulnerable young people to their ranks, according to the publication.
A study by the Ministry’s Cyber Operations Lab, launched after a Tip-Off from Rio State Police Intelligence, revealed several digital cells spreading harmful content disguised as a fandom commitment.
A man assumed to be the group’s leader was arrested in Rio Grande do Sul for illegal possession of a firearm.
Meanwhile, a teenager in Rio de Janeiro was taken into custody for storing child pornography – further exposing the disturbing tactics used to lure minors.
Police executed more than a dozen search and seizure options over four Brazilian states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Mato Grosso and Rio Grande do Sul.
Authorities emphasized that attackers were not motivated for any ideological reason, but by a twisted desire for online fame and validation within their radicalized circles.
Lady Gaga now joins the ranks of international stars such as Madonna and Rod Stewart, who have previously drawn massive audiences to Copacabana.
Madonna’s 2023 concert attracted 1.6 million fans, while Stewart’s New Year’s Eve from 1994 brought over 4 million.
