Overview

• Operation Fake Monster, led by Rio police and the Justice Ministry, uncovered a plot to attack Lady Gaga's free concert using improvised explosives and Molotov cocktails.
• The suspects, an adult group leader and a teenager, were arrested on charges of illegal firearm possession and child pornography, respectively.
• The extremist group falsely posed as Lady Gaga fans to recruit minors online, spreading hate speech and promoting violent and self-harm content.
• Despite the threat, the concert proceeded without incident, with 5,200 security personnel ensuring the safety of the event's record-breaking 2.1 million attendees.
• The concert, funded by Rio's city government to boost the local economy, generated an estimated 600 million reais and marked Lady Gaga's largest-ever audience.