Brazil police thwart bomb plan at Lady Gaga's concert

On Saturday, May 3, 2025, Brazilian police successfully disrupted a bomb plot aimed at Lady Gaga's concert on Copacabana Beach, which attracted over two million attendees. The concert was notable for being one of the largest free events in Brazil, marking a pivotal career moment for the pop icon. Law enforcement conducted a collaborative operation, utilizing intelligence from the Justice Ministry and various police forces, resulting in the arrest of two individuals linked to a group that promoted hate speech and radicalization among teens. The police emphasized that the suspects were part of an initiative that involved recruiting minors to engage in violent acts, using improvised explosives as part of a misguided bid for social media notoriety. The investigation, dubbed Operation Fake Monsters, led to multiple search warrants being executed across various states in Brazil. Police were able to track digital communications that illustrated the group’s intent to incite violence at the event and encouraged acts such as self-harm among teenagers as a misguided form of social belonging. Reports indicate that the group falsely identified themselves as members of Gaga's fanbase, the