Washington [US]: Two individuals, including a teenager, were arrested by the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro in connection with an alleged bomb plot aimed at Lady Gaga’s free concert on May 3 at Copacabana Beach, which drew an estimated 2.5 million attendees, setting a record for the largest audience ever for a female artist.
Authorities said the suspects were allegedly planning to target Brazil’s LGBTQIA+ community using homemade explosive devices, including Molotov cocktails, and were reportedly attempting to recruit concertgoers to participate in a coordinated attack.
The police had been monitoring digital platforms for signs of the plot since Monday, according to a press conference reported by People.
Despite the serious nature of the threat, Lady Gaga and her team were unaware of the situation until after it surfaced in media reports.
“We learned about this alleged threat via media reports this morning,” said a spokesperson for Lady Gaga, who clarified that no warning or communication was received from law enforcement about any such threat prior to or during the show.
“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 added.
Thanks to swift police action, no incident occurred during the historic concert, which not only marked Gaga’s return to Brazil but also celebrated inclusion and unity among diverse communities.