Two individuals have been arrested in relation to an alleged scheme to detonate explosives during a free concert by pop star Lady Gaga in Rio de Janeiro, which authorities suspect was intended to target Brazil's LGBTQ community.

The concert, held on Copacabana beach, drew an estimated 2.1 million attendees on Saturday, marking the largest show in Lady Gaga's career.

According to Felipe Cury, secretary of the Rio police, the suspects expressed intentions to perpetrate an attack at the concert motivated by sexual orientation discrimination.

Rio police chief Luiz Lima elaborated that the group had been disseminating hate speech and violent content online, aiming to attract a following predominantly made up of teenagers and children.

Despite the arrests occurring just hours before the concert, the event proceeded without incident, prompting some to question the seriousness of the threat.

Historically, significant security concerns have led to the cancellation of major events, as seen with several concerts last year.

However, police opted not to inform the public of the alleged plot at that time to prevent panic and misinformation.

A spokesperson for Lady Gaga stated that the singer and her team first became aware of the potential threat through media reports the morning following the concert.

The statement emphasized that there were no known safety concerns prior to or during the show, nor was there any communication from law enforcement about potential risks.

Lady Gaga's concert included a substantial security presence, with over 5,200 military and police officers on hand.

The two arrested individuals include the alleged leader of the group, a man charged with illegal weapons possession in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, and a teenager from Rio facing charges related to child sexual abuse.

The details of their specific roles in the plot were not disclosed, nor was there clarity on how they selected Lady Gaga’s concert as a target.

Police reported that the group attempted to recruit participants, including minors, for planned coordinated assaults using improvised explosives and Molotov cocktails.

The Justice Ministry classified the group as a risk to public order, stating they misrepresented themselves online as 'Little Monsters', a term used by Lady Gaga for her fans, to attract young people into networks promoting violence and self-harm.

During operations that spanned multiple Brazilian states, authorities executed raids on 15 suspects' homes, confiscating various electronic devices.

Although the police indicated they believed there were plans for fabricated bombs, there was no confirmation of any actual weapons or explosives being discovered during the raids.

In one instance, a suspect whose home was raided expressed a religious motivation and labeled Lady Gaga a 'Satanist'.

Lady Gaga took to Instagram to express her gratitude for the attendance and support of the Brazilian audience during the concert, noting the emotional significance of her performance after a prolonged absence due to health issues.

The concert, viewed as a critical cultural event, was free to attendees and was organized to stimulate economic activity amid rising costs for similar live performances around the globe.

The concert is estimated to have generated a significant economic boost to the region of approximately 600 million reais, roughly $120 million.

This occurrence adds to the growing concern regarding safety at large public events, particularly as high-profile artists have increasingly become targets of threats, with some previous concerts leading to cancellations amid security worries.