In Operation Fake Monster, which prevented the attack on the planned bomb for the show of singer Lady Gaga, on Saturday (3), in Rio de Janeiro, four states were involved in search and seizure warrants. In Rio Grande do Sul, a man accused of leading the group was arrested for illegal possession of a gun, was filed in the act, paid bail and was released.
The action, triggered and investigated by the Rio de Janeiro Civil Police, together with the Ministry of Justice, identified that involved were recruiting participants, including adolescents, to promote improvised molotov cocktails, according to the Rio Grande do Sul Civil Police.
Three search and seizure warrants were fulfilled in São Sebastião do Caí and Novo Hamburgo, with the support of police officers from the São Sebastião do Caí Police Station, the Montenegro Regional Police Station (1st DPRI), the Special Resources Coordination (Core), the 2nd Hamburg Police Station and the 3rd DPRM Police Station) Leopold.
Fake Monster Operation
The “Operation Fake Monster”, conducted by the Civil Police in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP) Cyber Operations Laboratory (CIBERLAB) ,.
The investigations revealed that the extremist group, of which both were part, recruited participants, including minors, to orchestrate coordinated attacks with makeshift explosives and Molotov cocktails. The objective, as found, was to obtain recognition on social networks through this “collective challenge”.
During the operation, the man appointed as leader of the criminal organization was arrested in the act in Rio Grande do Sul for illegal possession of firearms. In Rio de Janeiro, the teenager was apprehended for involvement in the scheme and storing child pornography.
The warning about the group’s activities came from the Undersecretary of Intelligence (SSINTE), which identified the growing radicalization of adolescents online. Investigators promoted on digital platforms the dissemination of hatred, self -mutilation, pedophilia and violent content crimes, using such practices as a form of integration and challenge among young people.
A man was arrested in the act in Novo Hamburgo (RS) for illegal possession of firearms. Other warrants were fulfilled in Mato Grosso, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.
The operation served 13 search and seizure warrants in several cities of Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul and Mato Grosso, in order to completely dismantle the group. At the addresses of the targets, electronic devices and other materials that will be analyzed for the advancement of investigations were seized.
Investigations continue to identify other possible involved and dismantle the criminal network that used the virtual environment to incite violence.
