Police foiled a bomb plot targeting Lady Gaga’s record-breaking concert on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, attended by an estimated 2.1 million people on Saturday.
Brazilian authorities said they made arrests related to the planned bomb attack.
“The suspects were recruiting participants, including minors, to carry out coordinated attacks using improvised explosives and Molotov cocktails,” the police said in a statement.
According to the Justice Ministry, recruiters presented themselves as part of Lady Gaga’s global fanbase, famously called the “Little Monsters.” They used social media channels and coded language to encourage youngsters to attack the concert. The goal of the planned attack was to gain notoriety on the social media, according to the authorities.
The operation to apprehend the terror suspects, codenamed “Operation Fake Monster,” was launched by the ministry’s Cyber Operations Lab following a tip-off to Rio state police intelligence.
Authorities carried out raids across Rio de Janeiro state as well as in the states of São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, and Mato Grosso.
Lady Gaga’s team broke their silence regarding the incident, claiming neither they nor Gaga were made aware of the bomb plot prior or during the concert.
“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,” a spokesperson said.
“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.”
Lady Gaga said that the oceans of fans “took her breath away.”
“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,” she posted on Instagram.
“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.”
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She thanked Rio “for waiting for me to come back,” and expressed her love for “the little monsters all over the world.” Gaga finished her post writing, “Obrigada. Love, Mother Monster.”
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