The concert, part of Gaga’s “Chromatica Ball 2.0” world tour, was being held at Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos, one of the city’s largest venues, where tens of thousands of fans had gathered. At approximately 7:15 PM local time — just 30 minutes before Gaga was scheduled to take the stage — suspicious activity was flagged by security forces stationed around the perimeter of the venue.
“Thanks to the quick response of our counter-terrorism unit, we successfully intercepted a credible bomb threat targeting the event,” said State Police Commander Henrique Vasques during an emergency press briefing. “It is no exaggeration to say Lady Gaga and thousands of fans were extremely lucky. This could have ended in mass casualties.”
Authorities confirmed that three teenage suspects, all Brazilian nationals aged between 15 and 17, were arrested on the scene. Investigators stated that the teens had been radicalized through encrypted online forums and had reportedly been planning the attack for several weeks. Homemade explosive devices were found hidden in a backpack near an entrance gate to the venue. Police also discovered electronic communication suggesting the attack was meant to send a political message, though the specifics remain under investigation.
The devices were described as “crude but powerful enough to cause serious harm,” according to military bomb squad chief Luiz Fernando Paredes. “These were not amateur fireworks — the damage could have been significant if the plan had not been stopped in time.”
Lady Gaga, whose team was immediately informed of the threat, was swiftly evacuated from the venue and placed under heavy security. She was reported to be “safe and unharmed,” but “shaken” by the event. A spokesperson for the singer issued a brief statement: “Lady Gaga expresses her deepest gratitude to Brazilian law enforcement and security personnel for their incredible bravery. Her thoughts are with all the fans affected and she remains committed to returning to Rio to perform when it is safe to do so.”
Fans were evacuated from the stadium shortly after the threat was confirmed, with some reporting panic and confusion as the announcement was made. “We were just waiting for her to come out when security started shouting for us to leave — people thought it was a drill,” said concertgoer Mariana Oliveira, 23. “When we found out it was a real bomb threat, it was terrifying.”
The concert has been officially postponed, and ticket holders are being offered refunds or the option to attend a rescheduled date. Meanwhile, national and international security agencies are now collaborating to trace the origin of the radicalization process the teens underwent.
Brazilian President Gabriela Rocha condemned the plot in a statement late Monday night: “Violence has no place in our society, and targeting innocent people through terrorism is an act of pure evil. I thank the Rio State Police for their heroic work and stand with the people of Brazil in ensuring justice is served.”
As investigations continue, officials urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity. This incident marks one of the most serious attempted attacks on a major music event in recent South American history and raises renewed concerns about youth radicalization and online extremism.
Lady Gaga has not yet commented personally on the incident via her social media accounts, but fans worldwide have flooded the platforms with messages of love and relief, using the hashtag #GagaSafe.
