Brazilian police foil bomb plot targeting Lady Gaga concert in Rio

Brazilian police have foiled a bomb plot targeting Lady Gaga’s concert in Rio de Janeiro. The Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro revealed that suspects had recruited individuals to carry out the attack with the aim of gaining fame. The mastermind and a minor were apprehended. The group had allegedly been spreading hateful messages online against youngsters, adolescents, and the LGBT community. One of the plotters was arrested in Rio Grande do Sul for possessing illegal firearms, while the teenager was taken into custody in Rio for involvement in child pornography. The suspects enlisted others to assist in the attack, spreading hate speech online aimed at minors and the LGBT community. They also encouraged teenagers to engage in radical activities like self-harm and violence. The individuals were said to be Lady Gaga fans, known as “Little Monsters.” The concert on Copacabana Beach attracted over two million spectators, prompting extensive security measures by deploying 5,000 officers, metal detectors for attendees, as well as drones and facial recognition systems for crowd surveillance. “Operation Fake Monster” was initiated following intelligence reports of online groups using coded language to incite violence among teenagers. Search warrants were executed in four states, resulting in the confiscation of electronics and other materials. The concert was sponsored by Rio’s city government to stimulate the local economy, with an estimated $100 million in revenue anticipated. Lady Gaga, promoting her eighth studio album, Mayhem, delighted fans by wearing attire inspired by Brazil’s national soccer team and expressing gratitude to the crowd for their long-standing support.