Lady Gaga Bomb Suspect Was Deported From US Last Month

A recently deported migrant from the United States has been identified as the suspected terrorist behind a plot to attack Lady Gaga’s record-breaking concert in Brazil, authorities said on Tuesday.

Luis da Silva, 44, allegedly planned to livestream the attack and detonate explosives near the stage during Lady Gaga’s free show on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, which drew a crowd of 2.5 million on Saturday night, Rio de Janeiro Civil Police Secretary Felipe Curi told the New York Post.

“He said that the singer was a satanist and that he was going to perform a satanist ritual too, killing a child during the show,” Curi told reporters.

Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the governor of Rio de Janeiro for comment via email Tuesday afternoon.

Why It Matters

The Trump administration has made it clear that it is seeking to deport the “worst first” when it comes to illegal immigrants. Brazil initially raised concerns about the way some deportations of its citizens were being handled, later meeting with U.S. officials to discuss the program.

What To Know

Brazilian authorities arrested da Silva on Sunday as part of their investigation. The plan involved radicalizing teenagers to use improvised explosives at the event—a plot that was thwarted.

According to the Postda Silva was arrested on an illegal gun possession charge but was released on bail on Monday. He had been deported from the U.S. last month, but it was not immediately clear why.

A teenager was also arrested on child pornography charges.

The operation to thwart the attack was called “Fake Monster” in a nod to fans of the singer who call themselves “Little Monsters.” It saw officers from multiple Brazilian agencies carry out 15 search and seizure warrants, according to the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro, with multiple electronic devices taken for analysis.

Officials believe the plot involved creating a network on social media to spread hate. Curi told reporters on Monday that those responsible for the plot would be charged with terrorism offenses.

MAGA commentator Laura Loomer reacted to the news that da Silva had been recently deported by claiming President Donald Trump had saved the U.S. from a potential terror attack.

In Fiscal Year 2024, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported 1,859 people back to Brazil—247 had criminal convictions, 201 had pending charges and the rest had other immigration violations.

What People Are Saying

Erika Hilton, Sao Paolo congresswoman, on X, formerly Twitter: “Hate speech and dehumanizing speech continues to grow on social networks, now openly encouraged by their owners. Speeches that turn into a discord group, an automotive challenge, a virtual stage, a bomb attack, death.

“It is not possible for the whole of Brazil to have, as the only strategy to combat this, to hope that the Justice and the Police find these criminals before they go on to terrorist attack or physical violence.”

Rodney da Silva, director of the Integrated Operations and Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, in a press release: “This operation is an example of the integrated response capacity of the Civil Police. We acted surgically to dismantle a network that co-opted young people into violent practices in the digital environment. Our main objective is to protect adolescents and prevent symbolic violence from migrating to reality.”

Far-right activist Laura Loomer, on X: “A terrorist illegal alien who planned to kill Lady Gaga fans at her Brazil concert was deported from the US by the Trump administration last month! If @realDonaldTrump had not deported him, he probably would have carried out a terrorist attack on US soil!”

What Happens Next

Lady Gaga has not yet commented on the planned attack. Further charges are expected as part of the Fake Monster operation.