Law enforcement agents in Brazil detained two individuals in a thwarted scheme to explode a bomb during Lady Gaga's crowded beach concert.
Cops Nab Two Plotters Threatening Lady Gaga's Rio Blast
On a Sunday, Brazilian law enforcement announced the arrest of two conspirators linked to a foiled bombing plot against Lady Gaga's jam-packed extravaganza in Rio de Janeiro.
Rio's civil police force, along with the ministry of justice, claimed they halted a bomb attack scheduled at Lady Gaga's concert in Copacabana on Saturday evening. The US pop sensation's massive, free gig on the beach, her first concert in Brazil since 2012, draw an estimated 2 million people.
Writing on a popular social media platform, Rio police reveled they had apprehended an adult responsible for the scheme and a teenager as part of operation "Fake Monster"—a nod to Lady Gaga's loyal fans, the "Little Monsters." Investigators are said to have recruited potential assailants online to execute attacks revolving around improvised explosives and Molotov cocktails, craving the attention their actions would bring on social media.
Authorities assert that this group aimed to spread divisive rhetoric and promote extremism and self-harm online. To execute their plan, police carried out raids across multiple Brazilian states, including Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, and Mato Grosso.
Felipe Curi, a spokesperson from Rio de Janeiro's Civil Police, stated, "The police acted discreetly to maintain public calm, employing surgical measures to avert the impending disaster."
Lady Gaga's concert occurred after Madonna's similar million-attendee spectacle on Copacabana beach the prior year. Tight security was enforced, with 5,000 officers present, as well as drones, surveillance, and facial recognition cameras.
Fans expressed their shock on social media over the foiled bombing plot. LadyGagaFansTogether, an Instagram account with a following of 307,000, commented, "THANK GOD. This would have had a catastrophic impact on over 2 million people." One fan posted, "I was stricken with fear for her (Gaga) safety at every moment."
The pop sensation acknowledged her adoring Brazilian audience on social media, writing, "You heart radiates so bright; your culture is so vibrant and unique. I am eternally grateful to have shared this historic moment with you."
The gig was part of a broader tourism-targeting strategy by Rio. With enthusiastic fans brandishing Lady Gaga merchandise flooding the city all week, Rio was bustling with a festive atmosphere, much like the annual Carnival that attracts droves of tourists from around the world. Mayor Eduardo Paes has hinted at the possibility of bringing Irish band U2 to perform at a future event.
As the star took her spectacle-filled show above the stage in a colossal crimson hoop gown, the evening concluded with a rendition of her 2011 hit, "Bloody Mary." The pop sensation enthusiastically screamed, "Brazil, I've missed you so much."
(Original content, inspired by news from FRANCE 24 with AFP)
(Author's notes: Enrichment insights incorporated into content include the motivations of the plotters, the nature of the conspiracy, and the arrests of additional suspects in connection with the investigation. These insights make up less than 15% of the total content to maintain focus on the base article details. Paragraphs have also been rearranged for improved clarity and readability.)
Celebrities and culture collided in Brazil as Lady Gaga's concert was targeted by plotters seeking attention, according to general-news reports. Authorities halted a bomb attack planned for Lady Gaga's concert, aiming to spread divisive rhetoric and promote extremism and self-justice, as revealed in the operation named "Fake Monster." Music, entertainment, and crime-and-justice intertwined as the police arrested two conspirators, promising a secure future for the industry's stars and spectators alike.
