Brazilian police foil bomb plot targeting Lady Gaga concert in Rio

According to law enforcement, a suspect involved in plotting the attack has been detained, along with a teenager believed to be connected to the plan. The suspects were recruiting others to carry out bombings during the concert. They were also spreading hate speech, primarily targeting children, teenagers, and the LGBTQ+ community. The goal of the attack was to gain notoriety on social media.

The suspects were arrested during a special operation codenamed "Fake Monster." The operation was launched after police discovered online groups encouraging violence among teenagers.

As part of a large-scale security effort, 5,000 law enforcement officers were deployed. Attendees had to pass through metal detectors. Drones and facial recognition cameras were also used to maintain order at the event.

It’s hard to comprehend just how big American artists are in Brazil. This is Lady Gaga in Rio right nowpic.twitter.com/6C4HAQp15N

— Frank Michael Smith (@frankmikesmith) May 4, 2025

Details about Lady Gaga's concert in Brazil

Lady Gaga last performed in Brazil in 2012. She returned to the stage on Copacabana Beach in Rio as part of a tour promoting her eighth album, Mayhem.

The city sponsored the concert to help revive Rio’s economy, expecting it could bring in around $100 million. Admission was free, which helped attract a crowd of 2 million.

"You waited more than 10 years for me," Lady Gaga said emotionally to the massive crowd while holding a Brazilian flag.

For more details about the long-awaited album Mayhem, which Lady Gaga worked on for five years, read RBC-Ukraine's report.

Notably, the last major terrorist attack at a concert of this scale occurred in 2017, when two explosions hit the Manchester Arena during an Ariana Grande performance. Twenty people were killed and dozens more were injured.