Brazilian authorities have arrested two individuals in connection with an alleged plot to detonate explosives during the massive free concert of Lady Gaga at Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, which drew an estimated 2.1 million fans on Saturday. Officials believe the suspected plot was aimed at Brazil’s LGBTQ community, with security forces intervening just hours before the event began.
The Rio concert was the largest performance of the pop superstar’s career. Fans sang and danced to hits such as ‘Born This Way’, which has been an anthem for the LGBTQ community since its release in 2011.
Felipe Cury, the Rio police secretary, confirmed in a Sunday press conference that the suspects intended to carry out a hate-based attack. “They were clearly saying that they were planning an attack at Lady Gaga’s concert motivated by sexual orientation,” he explained.
Authorities Seized Devices, Arrested Two Suspects
Two suspects were detained in raids conducted ahead of the concert: a man in Rio Grande do Sul, a southern state, accused of illegal weapon possession, the suspected leader of the group, and a boy in Rio, charged with child sexual abuse. The group, authorities said, had been enlisting participants, including children, to carry out coordinated attacks made with improvised explosive devices and Molotov cocktails.
Luiz Lima, Rio police chief, explained the group’s online activities at the briefing. “The group disseminated hate speech and violent content online “aimed at gaining notoriety in order to attract more viewers, more participants – most of them teenagers, many of them children,” he said.
Despite the danger, the show continued uninterrupted, raising questions about the extent of the threat. Police said, however, they kept silent on the details of the plot to “avoid panic” and avoid the “distortion of information.”
Team of Lady Gaga Unaware of Threat During the Show
Lady Gaga’s representative stated that only after reading news coverage the next day did her team and she learn of the supposed threat. “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 representative stated. It also made it clear there were no known safety issues relayed to Lady Gaga before or during the show.
Strict security precautions had been taken for the event, with 5,200 soldiers and police personnel deployed on Copacabana Beach, providing security for the record-breaking number of fans.
Plot Disguised Under the Guise of Fandom
The group was described by Brazil’s Justice Ministry as a “threat to public order” and had misrepresented themselves as Little Monsters, Lady Gaga’s term for her fanbase, on the internet. The suspects used this guise to entice teenagers into violent and self-destructive groups, it is alleged.
As part of the probe, police raided the residences of 15 suspects in several Brazilian states and confiscated phones and other electronic gadgets. Although no explosive materials were found during the raids, police suspect that homemade bombs were to be used in the attack.
In one especially chilling disclosure, Cury reported that a suspect in the city of Macaé cited a religious reason for attacking the concert, stating that Lady Gaga was a “Satanist.”
Lady Gaga, Thanks Brazil for the Unforgettable Moment
Lady Gaga posted on Instagram following the concert to show her sincere appreciation for the Brazilian audience. Nothing could have prepared me for the way I felt last night during the show – the pure pride and happiness that I felt singing to the people of Brazil,” she posted. “The view of the crowd during my first songs took my breath away. Your heart glows so brightly, your culture is so rich and unique, I hope you know how thankful I am to have been able to share this moment in history with you.”
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The free concert was a welcome respite from increasing worldwide ticket prices for live performances, making it a special and memorable experience for her fans, particularly those in marginalized communities who drew strength from her message of inclusivity.
