The police in Brazil reported on Sunday that they had successfully thwarted a disturbing plot to detonate explosives during Lady Gaga's recently held concert at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. This massive free event attracted an estimated crowd of over two million fans. Although the concert went on without incident, the threat was acknowledged just a day later, catching the attention of both authorities and the pop icon herself, who became aware of the situation through media coverage.

According to the civil police of Rio de Janeiro, the scheme was orchestrated by a group that was actively recruiting teenagers to execute attacks using improvised explosives and Molotov cocktails. The intended victims included children, teenagers, and individuals from the L.G.B.T.Q. community, highlighting the malicious intent behind the plot.

Law enforcement apprehended the leader of this group in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul for illegal firearm possession, while another arrest involved a teenager found with child pornography. The details surrounding potential charges against the suspects were not disclosed in the police announcement.

Representatives for Lady Gaga, an ardent advocate for L.G.B.T.Q. rights, have yet to publicly respond to the situation. This concert is part of Rio's initiative to draw major international artists for large scale free performances at Copacabana Beach, following similar events that featured Madonna in the previous year.

Jack Nicas contributed to the report. Mike Ives is a correspondent for The Times, providing insights on breaking news across the globe.