Brazil police thwart bomb attack on Lady Gaga concert
RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazilian police said they thwarted a bomb attack planned for Lady Gaga's concert on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday.
The Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro state, in coordination with the justice ministry, said suspects had recruited participants to carry out attacks using improvised explosives and the plan was aimed at gaining notoriety on social media.
The person responsible for the plan and a teenager were arrested, the police said.
Lady Gaga's team said they learned about the bomb threat only from media reports the morning after the gig. A crowd of more than two million people gathered for the concert, which was free to attend.
Police said the group that planned the attack had been spreading hate speech, mainly against children, adolescents and the LGBTQ+ community.
The alleged mastermind was arrested for illegal possession of a firearm in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, while the teenager was detained for storing child pornography in Rio.
Those responsible were also promoting the radicalisation of teenagers, including self-harm and violent content "as a form of belonging and challenge among young people".
A spokesperson for Lady Gaga told The Hollywood Reporter: "We learned about this alleged threat via media reports this morning.
"Prior to and during the show, there were no known safety concerns, nor any communication from the police or authorities to Lady Gaga regarding any potential risks."
The justice ministry said the suspects had identified themselves as Lady Gaga fans, known widely as "Little Monsters".
Police issued search warrants across the states of Rio de Janeiro, Mato Grosso, Rio Grande do Sul and Sao Paulo, and electronic devices and other materials were seized.
"Operation Fake Monster" was launched following a tip-off from Rio state police intelligence, which uncovered online groups encouraging violence among teenagers using coded language and extremist symbolism.
The concert was paid for by the city in an attempt to revitalize Rio's economy, with expectations it could bring in $100m (£75m).
In a massive security operation, 5,000 officers were deployed and attendees had to pass through metal detectors. Drones and facial recognition cameras were also used to police the event.
Lady Gaga, who last performed in Brazil in 2012, took the stage as part of a tour to promote her eighth album, Mayhem.
The singer wore Brazil-themed costumes for some of her acts, with outfits inspired by the national football team.
"You waited for more than 10 years for me," an emotional Lady Gaga told the huge crowd, holding out a Brazilian flag. — BBC
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
2 days ago
- Arab News
Sofia Carson suits up for Netflix celebration
DUBAI: US singer and actress Sofia Carson showed off several looks by Lebanese designer Elie Saab during Netflix festivities this week, marking the latest in a long list of red carpet moments where she has opted for a Lebanese creation. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ Ahead of Netflix Tudum 2025: The Live Event — the streaming platform's celebration of global fandom and storytelling — Carson appeared in a white ensemble featuring a tailored blazer, wide-leg trousers and a matching shirt. A post shared by ELIE SAAB (@eliesaabworld) On a separate occasion, she wore an all-black outfit composed of wide-leg trousers and a sheer top with cape-like sleeves, tied at the neck with a long scarf. Both outfits were from Saab's Ready-to-Wear Pre-Fall 2025 collection. For the live event, which she hosted, Carson first wore a taupe, floor-length gown by Stephane Rolland, made of pleated fabric with long draped sleeves and a high beaded neckline. Later, she switched to a black velvet tailored suit, styled with a white shirt, satin lapels, a black bow tie, a brooch and statement rings. A post shared by Sofia Carson (@sofiacarson) Netflix Tudum 2025: The Live Event took place in Los Angeles at the sold-out Kia Forum and attracted thousands of online viewers as well as the live audience. It included exclusive previews and performances by Lady Gaga and Hanumankind and featured appearances by cast members from series such as 'ONE PIECE,' 'Squid Game,' 'Stranger Things' and 'Wednesday,' as well as previews of upcoming films including 'Frankenstein,' 'Happy Gilmore 2,' 'The Rip' and 'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.' A post shared by Sofia Carson (@sofiacarson) The event was preceded by Netflix's first fully interactive red carpet, which included immersive installations, fan pits and dedicated stages for photo opportunities tied to specific titles. This was not the first time Carson, known for her roles in 'My Oxford Year,' 'Carry-On,' 'Purple Hearts' and 'Feel The Beat,' wore Elie Saab this year. In March, she appeared in one of the designer's ensembles while promoting her latest project, 'The Life List.' She also wore a green dress from the designer's Ready-to-Wear Fall/Winter 2023–2024 collection during an appearance on 'CBS Mornings' in New York City. The look featured an oversized floral embellishment at the neck in shades of yellow and white, styled with deep green knee-high boots and a matching bag.
Arab News
3 days ago
- Arab News
'Hand of Neymar' earns Brazilian red card in potential Santos send off
Neymar has spoken about the impact Diego Maradona had on his career after meeting him as a child but his bid to emulate the late Argentine great's 'Hand of God' goal backfired on Sunday when he was sent off in what could be his last game for Santos. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport
Saudi Gazette
05-05-2025
- Saudi Gazette
Brazil police thwart bomb attack on Lady Gaga concert
RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazilian police said they thwarted a bomb attack planned for Lady Gaga's concert on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday. The Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro state, in coordination with the justice ministry, said suspects had recruited participants to carry out attacks using improvised explosives and the plan was aimed at gaining notoriety on social media. The person responsible for the plan and a teenager were arrested, the police said. Lady Gaga's team said they learned about the bomb threat only from media reports the morning after the gig. A crowd of more than two million people gathered for the concert, which was free to attend. Police said the group that planned the attack had been spreading hate speech, mainly against children, adolescents and the LGBTQ+ community. The alleged mastermind was arrested for illegal possession of a firearm in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, while the teenager was detained for storing child pornography in Rio. Those responsible were also promoting the radicalisation of teenagers, including self-harm and violent content "as a form of belonging and challenge among young people". A spokesperson for Lady Gaga told The Hollywood Reporter: "We learned about this alleged threat via media reports this morning. "Prior to and during the show, there were no known safety concerns, nor any communication from the police or authorities to Lady Gaga regarding any potential risks." The justice ministry said the suspects had identified themselves as Lady Gaga fans, known widely as "Little Monsters". Police issued search warrants across the states of Rio de Janeiro, Mato Grosso, Rio Grande do Sul and Sao Paulo, and electronic devices and other materials were seized. "Operation Fake Monster" was launched following a tip-off from Rio state police intelligence, which uncovered online groups encouraging violence among teenagers using coded language and extremist symbolism. The concert was paid for by the city in an attempt to revitalize Rio's economy, with expectations it could bring in $100m (£75m). In a massive security operation, 5,000 officers were deployed and attendees had to pass through metal detectors. Drones and facial recognition cameras were also used to police the event. Lady Gaga, who last performed in Brazil in 2012, took the stage as part of a tour to promote her eighth album, Mayhem. The singer wore Brazil-themed costumes for some of her acts, with outfits inspired by the national football team. "You waited for more than 10 years for me," an emotional Lady Gaga told the huge crowd, holding out a Brazilian flag. — BBC
