Brazilian Police foil bomb plot targeting Lady Gaga's record-breaking Rio concert
Amid fireworks and roaring fans at Lady Gaga’s record-breaking Copacabana concert, Brazilian police quietly prevented a potential tragedy — dismantling a bomb plot just hours before showtime. Discover how authorities uncovered the threat, what they found, and how Gaga’s night of music and unity narrowly escaped disaster.
Brazilian authorities successfully thwarted a bomb plot targeting Lady Gaga’s May 3, 2025, concert at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, which drew over 2.5 million attendees—a record for a female artist. The conspiracy, organized by an online hate group promoting anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and violent acts, was uncovered through Operation Fake Monster, a joint initiative by Brazilian law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
Two suspects were arrested: an adult male in Rio Grande do Sul found with illegal weapons and identified as the group's leader, and a juvenile in Rio linked to child pornography. Authorities raided homes of 15 suspects across several states, seizing electronic devices. While it remains unclear whether explosives were recovered, the operation was kept confidential until after the concert to prevent public panic.
Brazil thwarts bomb plot at Lady Gaga concert by radical teen group
The suspects, part of a radical group promoting hate speech and teenage radicalization, planned to use improvised explosives and Molotov cocktails. The operation, dubbed "Fake Monster," involved coordinated efforts across multiple states, ensuring the concert proceeded safely without incident.
The group had been promoting the radicalisation of teenagers including hate crimes, self-harm, pedophilia and violent content as a form of "challenge" among young people on digital platforms. Around two million people gathered on Copacabana beach to see Lady Gaga perform at a free concert on Saturday in Rio.
Lady Gaga Concert safe despite threat: recruits claimed to be “Little Monsters”
Lady Gaga’s team was unaware of the threat until media reports surfaced; heightened safety measures had been implemented collaboratively with law enforcement. The event, sponsored by Rio’s city government, also aimed to stimulate the local economy, with an anticipated $106 million in revenue.
The Justice Ministry said the recruiters identified themselves as members of Gaga's global fan base, known as the "Little Monsters."The concert, which drew an estimated crowd of more than two million people, went ahead without disruption. Lady Gaga performed for free as part of a major public event on the city’s famous beach.
