The Rio de Janeiro Police prevented a bombing attack during the Lady Gaga concert on Copacabana beach, attended by nearly two million people. Two individuals were arrested, the mastermind of the plan and a teenager whose identities have not been revealed.
In a statement, the Brazilian Police confirmed the detention of the two involved and the dismantling of the attack attempt. 15 search and seizure orders were carried out in several states, including Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and Mato Grosso.
Rodney da Silva, director of the Diopi of the Ministry of Justice, emphasized that the operation was an example of the integrated response capability of the civil police. According to authorities, the plan aimed to take advantage of the large public turnout at the concert to maximize the impact of the attack.
The investigation revealed that the group was recruiting participants to carry out attacks with homemade explosives and Molotov cocktails with the aim of gaining notoriety on social media. The group's leader disseminated hate speeches, primarily targeting children, teenagers, and the LGBTQIA+ community.
The teenager arrested in Rio de Janeiro faces charges of possessing child pornography. The Civil Police initiated the investigation after an alert from the Civil Police Intelligence Subsecretariat, which detected signs of a scheme for attacks with homemade explosives.
During the Lady Gaga concert, authorities deployed a significant security operation, with more than 5,000 agents, drones, and facial recognition cameras. The Military Police seized more than 200 knives and installed 18 search points with metal detectors at the entrances.
The operation, dubbed 'Fake Monster,' involved several police units. Authorities continue to take steps to identify other possible accomplices and determine if the group had links to extremist organizations.
