Police say new Ariana Grande concert attack threat led to arrest in Costa Rica

Law enforcement in Costa Rica say they’ve apprehended a man accused of making threats against Ariana Grande’s weekend concert.


Ariana was in the country for a stop on her ‘Dangerous Woman Tour’ at Parque Viva on Sunday (July 9). The show was ultimately carried out completely safely thanks to an increased security presence.

According to the Daily Mail, Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Department (OIJ) moved into action after a series of threatening messages were posted on the promoter’s Facebook page in the run-up to the gig.

The OIJ investigation led to the arrest of 22-year-old Caicedo Lopez at his flat near the Costa Rican capital of San Jose hours before the concert on Saturday (July 8).

A spokesperson for the OIJ told the newspaper: “The original threat was in the Arabic language and indicated that there could be a situation of danger or an attack at the concert. It was a very sensitive situation.”

The concert’s organisers also credited the OIJ with carrying out the potentially dangerous counter-terrorism raid “with total professionalism”.

This latest incident comes under two months since 22 people were killed and more than 250 others were injured when a suicide bomber struck at Ariana’s Manchester Arena concert on May 22.

Counter-terrorism agencies in the UK continue to investigate the incident. Just last week, a teenager was arrested on suspicion of offences contrary to the Terrorism Act — making his the 23rd arrest overall.

In the aftermath of the tragic events in Manchester, Ariana returned to the stage for the inspiring benefit concert One Love Manchester and later resumed her ‘Dangerous Woman Tour’ throughout Europe following a brief hiatus.