A plot to bomb a free Lady Gaga concert on Saturday in Brazil was foiled by local law enforcement, according to the Brazilian Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP).
In MJSP’s press release, the Civil Police of the State of Rio de Janeiro (PCRJ), with the support of MJSP’s Cyber Operations Laboratory (Ciberlab), managed to dismantle a criminal network that operated online.
“The network promoted the radicalization of adolescents, the dissemination of hate crimes, self-mutilation, and violent content as a form of belonging and defiance among young people,” the press release stated.
Newsweek has reached out to Lady Gaga’s representatives and the Military Police of Rio de Janeirofor comment via email on Sunday.
Why It Matters
Large crowds, including concerts, are a prime target for terrorist activities.
In 2017, singer Ariana Grande’s concert in Manchester, United Kingdom, was the site of a bombing that killed 22 people and injured dozens more, with an audience primarily consisting of children.
The joint operation carried out by multiple Brazilian law enforcement agencies shows that their intelligence is not only tracking online groups but thwarting their efforts to commit violence.
What To Know
Gaga performed to a crowd of over 2 million people on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday.
A report by Ciberlab identified the possible threat in online chatter among the group, the MJSP said in its release, adding that 13 search and seizure warrants were executed in eight different jurisdictions.
In an X, formerly Twitter, post, the PCRJ said they arrested the person who was “responsible for the plan” and also apprehended a teen during the operation.
Video of the operation shared by PCRJ on X shows bulletproof vest wearing law enforcement officers executing the warrants at multiple locations.
In one clip, they confront a person who is lying in bed with a blanket covered in emojis. Other clips show various electronics including phones, laptops and desk computers being taken into evidence.
A man in a blue jacket is also seen being walked in hand cuffs. A gun and several bullets that were seized during the operation are also shown in the video.
The operation to thwart the attack was called “Fake Monster” in a nod to fans of the singer who call themselves “Little Monsters.” Gaga herself recognizes her fans by the name, even thanking them for their support on her official website.
Juveniles were recruited by the criminal organization online to throw Molotov cocktails and other improvised explosive devices during the free concert, local media Misto Brazil reported.
Organizers of the plot pretended to be part of the fan community on their profiles in order to lure young people into the group that says it encourages belonging to a community but actually promotes “violent and self-destructive content.”
The goal was to attract isolated youths and give them challenges, which typically include violent acts, hate crimes, and self-harm.
Getty/Buda Mendes
What People Are Saying
Rodney da Silva, Director of the Directorate of Integrated Operations and Intelligence (DIOPI) of the MJSP, said: “This operation is an example of the integrated response capacity of the Civil Police. We acted surgically to dismantle a network that co-opted young people for violent practices in the digital environment. Our main objective is to protect adolescents and prevent symbolic violence from migrating to reality.”
What Happens Next?
It’s unclear when those involved in the plot will be present in court to answer for their involvement.