New Time Africa
Brazilian police have arrested two individuals in connection with a suspected plot to attack Lady Gaga’s massive concert on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on May 3, 2025. The free concert attracted an estimated 2.5 million people, becoming the largest audience ever for a female artist.
The operation, named "Fake Monster," targeted an extremist group that had been spreading hate speech online and attempting to radicalize minors. One suspect was arrested in Rio Grande do Sul for illegal firearm possession, while a teenager in Rio de Janeiro was detained on charges related to child pornography.
Authorities believe the group was planning to use improvised explosives and Molotov cocktails to target the LGBTQIA+ community during the concert.
Police conducted raids in multiple states, seizing electronic devices and materials linked to the plot. To avoid public panic, concert organizers and Lady Gaga's team were not informed of the threat until after the event.
Despite the serious security concerns, the concert proceeded peacefully, and Lady Gaga later thanked her fans for the unforgettable experience and overwhelming energy from the Brazilian crowd.