Two suspects have been arrested over a plot to bomb a Lady Gaga concert on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro attended by 2.1 million fans.
The pair - a man and a teenager - planned to carry out an attack at the singer’s biggest ever show using improvised explosives and Molotov cocktails, according to reports.
Civil Police and the Ministry of Justice said children, teenagers and the LGBT community were the intended target of a hate crime.
“The suspects were recruiting participants, including minors, to carry out coordinated attacks using improvised explosives and Molotov cocktails,” the force said.
Detectives working on Operation Fake Monster raided nine addresses across Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, seizing electronic devices.
One male – the group’s alleged leader - was detained for the illegal possession of a firearm in Rio Grande do Sul and the youngster on suspicion of child abuse image offences in Rio.
Members are said to have promoted the radicalisation of teenagers, encouraged self-harm and shared violent content online.
They allegedly recruited participants - including teenagers - to carry out attacks.
Investigations suggest that the suspected bomb plot was seen by those involved as a “collective challenge” to make themselves known on social media.
In a statement first issued to The Hollywood Reporter, a spokesman for Gaga said: “We learned about this alleged threat via media reports this morning.
“Prior to and during the show, there were no known safety concerns, nor any communication from the police or authorities to Lady Gaga regarding any potential risks.
“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 pop star’s performance was paid for by the city in an attempt to revitalise Rio’s economy and is expected to bring in $100 million (£75m).
Saturday's performance was part of a promotional tour for Gaga’s eighth album, Mayhem, whose songs include Abracadabra and Die With a Smile. She last performed in Brazil in 2012.
A 2017 appearance was cancelled due to health issues.
Fans - known as Gaga’s “Little Monsters” - began queuing early in the morning and waited in long lines to gain access to the beach.
A massive security operation was in place with 5,000 officers on duty and attendees having to pass through metal detectors.
Authorities also used drones and facial recognition cameras to help police the event.
The massive crowd also broke a Rio de Janeiro record set last year by Madonna in a show that drew 1.6m to Copacabana beach in May 2024, which was also paid for by the city.
