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Daily Mail
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Horror bomb attack on Lady Gaga concert attended by 2 million fans is foiled by police
Police thwarted a bomb attack planned for Lady Gaga 's historic concert that drew over 2 million people to Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday. Local police said the plot was orchestrated by a group promoting hate speech and the radicalization of teenagers, including self-harm and violent content as a form of 'social belonging.' According to official data, 2.1 million people attended the American pop icon's free show. 'The suspects were recruiting participants, including minors, to carry out coordinated attacks using improvised explosives and Molotov cocktails,' the police said in a statement. The Justice Ministry said the recruiters identified themselves as members of Gaga's global fan base, known as the 'Little Monsters.' The operation was based on a report by the ministry's Cyber Operations Lab following a tip-off from Rio state police intelligence, which uncovered digital cells encouraging violent behavior among teenagers using coded language and extremist symbolism. A man described as the group's leader was arrested in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul for illegal possession of a firearm, while a teenager in Rio de Janeiro was detained for storing child pornography. Authorities carried out over a dozen search and seizure warrants of 15 suspects across the states of Rio de Janeiro, Mato Grosso, Rio Grande do Sul and Sao Paulo. 'The plan was treated as a "collective challenge" with the aim of gaining notoriety on social media,' police said. contacted the singer's team for comment. The 39-year old singer's concert was paid for by the city in an attempt to revitalize Rio's economy as it's estimated it could bring in nearly $100 million. 'Tonight, we're making history. Thank you for making history with me,' Lady Gaga told a screaming crowd. The Mother Monster, as she is known, kicked off the show at around 10pm local time with her 2011 song Bloody Mary. Cries of joy rose from the tightly-packed fans who sang and danced shoulder-to-shoulder on the vast stretch of sand. Lady Gaga performed her classic hits, including Poker Face and Alejandro, switching between an array of dresses including one with the colors of the Brazilian flag. Some fans - many of them young - arrived on the beach at the crack of dawn to secure a good spot, armed with snacks and drinks. They spent the day under a blazing sun, while others perched in trees, determined to get a panoramic view. She followed in the footsteps of Queen of Pop Madonna. Madonna played to a then record-breaking 1.6 million fans at the same location last year. Now Gaga has surpassed that record with 2.1 million fans. Lady Gaga previously posted to X: 'It's a great honor to be asked to sing for Rio - for my whole career the fans in Brazil have been part of the lifeblood of the little monsters. 'I've been dying to come perform for you for years and was heartbroken when I had to cancel years ago because I was hospitalized. 'Your understanding that I needed that time to heal meant the world to me.' Similar concerts are scheduled to take place every year in May at least until 2028. More than 500,000 tourists poured into the city in the days leading up to the show, more than double the initial forecast. Rio officials have a history of organizing huge concerts on Copacabana Beach. Madonna's show drew an estimated 1.6 million fans last year, while 4 million people flooded onto the beach for a 1994 New Year's Eve show by Rod Stewart in 1994.
The Herald Scotland
05-05-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Lady Gaga Rio de Janeiro show target of bomb plot foiled by police
According to the Rio city hall, 2.1 million people attended the pop icon's concert. "The suspects were recruiting participants, including minors, to carry out coordinated attacks using improvised explosives and Molotov cocktails," the police said in a statement. 'Mayhem': Lady Gaga 'reassembles shattered mirror' on new studio album The Justice Ministry said the recruiters identified themselves as members of Gaga's global fan base, known as the "Little Monsters." The operation was based on a report by the ministry's Cyber Operations Lab following a tipoff from Rio state police intelligence, which uncovered digital cells encouraging violent behavior among teenagers using coded language and extremist symbolism. Lady Gaga: The pop icon reveals how her fiance changed her life, music A man described as the group's leader was arrested in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul for illegal possession of a firearm, while a teenager in Rio de Janeiro was detained for storing child pornography. Authorities carried out more than a dozen search-and-seizure warrants across the states of Rio de Janeiro, Mato Grosso, Rio Grande do Sul and Sao Paulo.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
2 Arrested for Plot to Bomb Lady Gaga Concert in Brazil
Brazilian police arrested two people Sunday in an alleged plan to detonate a bomb at a Lady Gaga concert in Rio de Janeiro, which attracted two million fans to the Copacabana Beach on Saturday. Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro state and the Justice Ministry said the potential bombing was planned by a group that promotes hate speech. 'The suspects were recruiting participants, including minors, to carry out coordinated attacks using improvised explosives and Molotov cocktails,' the police explained in a statement. The ministry's Cyber Operations Lab received a tip from Rio state police, who 'digital cells encouraging violent behavior among teenagers using coded language and extremist symbolism,' Reuters reported. The arrested include the alleged leader of the group, who was charged with illegal weapons possession, and a teenager who was levied child pornography charges. 'We learned about this alleged threat via media reports this morning,' Lady Gaga told the Hollywood Reporter Sunday. '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. Her team worked closely with law enforcement throughout the planning and execution of the concert and all parties were confident in the safety measures in place.' The show is the largest of Gaga's career to date. 'Nothing could prepare me for the feeling I had during last night's show — the absolute pride and joy I felt singing for the people of Brazil,' the singer wrote on Instagram Sunday morning. 'The sight of the crowd during my opening songs took my breath away. Your heart shines so bright, your culture is so vibrant and special, I hope you know how grateful I am to have shared this historical moment with you.' 'An estimated 2.5 million people came to see me sing, the biggest crowd for any woman in history. I wish I could share this feeling with the whole world—I know I can't, but I can say this—if you lose your way, you can find your way back if you believe in yourself and work hard,' Gaga continued. 'You can give yourself dignity by rehearsing your passion and your craft, pushing yourself to new heights— you can lift yourself up even if it takes some time. Thank you Rio for waiting for me to come back. Thank you little monsters all over the world. I love you. I will never forget this moment. Paws up little monsters. Obrigada. Love, Mother Monster.' The post 2 Arrested for Plot to Bomb Lady Gaga Concert in Brazil appeared first on TheWrap.
TimesLIVE
04-05-2025
- TimesLIVE
Brazil police foil bomb plot targeting packed Lady Gaga concert in Rio
Brazilian police said on Sunday they had thwarted a bomb attack planned for Lady Gaga's historic concert that drew more than 2-million people to Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday. The Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro state, working in co-ordination with the justice ministry, said the plot was orchestrated by a group promoting hate speech and the radicalisation of teenagers, including self-harm and violent content as a form of social belonging. According to the Rio city hall, 2.1-million people attended the concert of the American pop icon. 'The suspects were recruiting participants, including minors, to carry out co-ordinated attacks using improvised explosives and Molotov cocktails,' the police said in a statement. The justice ministry said the recruiters identified themselves as members of Gaga's global fan base, known as the 'Little Monsters'. The operation was based on a report by the ministry's Cyber Operations Lab after a tip-off from Rio state police intelligence, which uncovered digital cells encouraging violent behaviour among teenagers using coded language and extremist symbolism. A man described as the group's leader was arrested in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul for illegal possession of a firearm, while a teenager in Rio de Janeiro was detained for storing child pornography. Authorities carried out more than a dozen search and seizure warrants across the states of Rio de Janeiro, Mato Grosso, Rio Grande do Sul and Sao Paulo.
