Brazilian police reported Sunday that two individuals arrested for allegedly plotting an attack at a Lady Gaga concert in Rio de Janeiro specifically intended to target LGBTQ+ attendees.
According to the Civil Police, the pair attempted to recruit others, including teenagers, to execute coordinated attacks at Saturday’s free performance using improvised explosives and Molotov cocktails, with the aim of gaining social media notoriety.
In a separate but related development, a third person was charged with terrorism offenses after police searches across Brazil revealed an alleged plan to carry out a “satanist ritual” involving the killing of a child or baby during the concert. Authorities indicated this individual believed Gaga was a Satanist and sought to respond in kind.
The concert at Copacabana beach drew approximately 2.1 million people, marking Gaga’s first show in Brazil since 2012.
Police stated the suspects were part of an online hate group that radicalized youth and promoted hate crimes, self-harm, pedophilia, and violent content.
They reportedly posed as “Little Monsters,” Lady Gaga’s fans, to recruit individuals for their planned attacks, leading police to name their operation “Operation Fake Monster.”
The alleged group leader was arrested for illegal firearm possession, and a teenager linked to the plot was arrested for possessing child pornography. Fifteen search warrants were executed at nine locations across Brazil.
