- Police have arrested two individuals after a planned bombing was foiled at a Lady Gaga concert in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Saturday night.
- The Brazilian police have accused a group of promoting hate speech and radicalizing teenagers of orchestrating the plan.
- Authorities allege that suspects targeted LGBTQ+ individuals at Gaga’s Copacabana Beach concert, which attracted over 2 million attendees.
Two individuals have been taken into custody after Brazilian police thwarted a bombing attempt at a Lady Gaga concert held in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday night.
Authorities revealed that the suspects were linked to a group known for promoting hate speech and extremist ideologies, particularly targeting LGBTQ+ communities. Their alleged plan was to launch an attack during the pop star’s historic performance at Copacabana Beach, which saw over two million fans in attendance.
Speaking at a press briefing on Sunday, Felipe Cury, Rio’s police secretary, confirmed the threat was rooted in homophobic motivations. “They were clearly saying that they were planning an attack at Lady Gaga’s concert motivated by sexual orientation,” he stated.
Officials chose not to disclose the threat publicly at the time in order to prevent widespread panic and misinformation.
The concert was heavily secured, with over 5,000 police and military personnel deployed across the beach venue. Lady Gaga performed a selection of her iconic tracks, including “Born This Way,” an anthem widely embraced by the LGBTQ+ community.
In response to the news, Lady Gaga’s representatives stated that they only became aware of the alleged plot through press coverage. According to a spokesperson, there were no alerts or warnings from authorities before or during the event. The team had worked closely with local law enforcement during all phases of the concert planning and remained confident in the safety protocols implemented.
