Brazilian Police Foil Bomb Plot at Lady Gaga’s Rio Concert, Arrest Two
RIO DE JANEIRO — May 5, 2025 — Brazilian authorities thwarted a bomb attack targeting Lady Gaga’s mega-concert on Copacabana Beach, which drew an estimated two million fans on Saturday night.
The operation, codenamed “Fake Monster”, led to the arrest of two individuals — one adult believed to be the ringleader and a teenager. According to Rio’s civil police, the suspects were planning to use improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to cause chaos and garner notoriety on social media.
Officials say the plot was uncovered through online surveillance, where suspects had attempted to recruit accomplices via digital platforms. Raids were conducted across four states — Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, and Mato Grosso.
The Ministry of Justice and local law enforcement coordinated closely in the high-stakes security effort. The concert, which followed Madonna’s similarly massive performance last year at the same venue, saw 5,000 officers deployed, along with drones, surveillance tools, and facial recognition cameras.
No injuries or disruptions occurred during the concert, and Lady Gaga’s performance went ahead as scheduled. Authorities emphasized that public safety remains a top priority and credited advanced monitoring and swift police action for preventing potential tragedy.
