Brazilian police say they stopped a planned bombing aimed at American pop star Lady Gaga’s massive concert at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday.
The event, which attracted more than two million people, was backed by the government as part of efforts to revive the country’s economy.
According to Rio’s civil police and the justice ministry, the plot was linked to a hate group known for spreading extremist ideas and trying to influence teenagers.
Authorities say the group encouraged violence, including promoting self-harm, as a way to make young people feel accepted.
The police revealed that the suspects were recruiting people, including minors, to carry out coordinated attacks using homemade explosives and Molotov cocktails.
They also pretended to be fans of Lady Gaga’s “Little Monsters” community to avoid suspicion.
The investigation began after cybercrime officials received a tip about secret online groups using encrypted messages and extremist symbols to spread violent messages to young people.
Among the two suspects taken into custody is a man in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul believed to be the group’s leader, who was arrested for having illegal weapons, and a teenager in Rio who faces charges related to child pornography.
Lady Gaga’s team said on Sunday they only found out about the alleged plot through media reports, stressing that there were no warnings from law enforcement before or during the show.
“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 spokesperson added.
KanyiDaily recalls that Lady Gaga offered $500,000 for the return of her two French bulldogs after gunmen stole them and shot her dog walker in Hollywood, Los Angeles.