A 22-year-old Colombian man who threatened an attack on an Ariana Grande performance July 9 at Parque Viva in Costa Rica got a big surprise – as did his family – when police stormed his house early Sunday morning in advance of the event.

After police received reports Saturday about a message sent via social media to one of the event organizers, the search began, and security for the event took on heightened dimensions, with police also carrying out simulations to be prepared in the event of an attack.

Concertgoers at a Grande concert in Manchester, England on May 22 were horrified when they were met with a bloody attack as they exited that left several dead and many wounded. The England attack initially raised doubts as to whether or not the young woman would continue with her planned tour in Central America.

 

The IP address linked to the phone from which the messages were sent led police to the home of the man, who was identified with the surnames Caicedo Lopez, said OIJ Director Walter Espinoza in a public statement.

When police agents entered the man’s home in a northwestern San Jose district of Los Colegios, Moravia, they said the man and his parents were eating breakfast and were shocked to see police.

Minister of Public Security Gustavo Mata said that during the encounter the man suspected of sending the message – which was sent in Arabic – said it had been a joke, and police added that his parents were upset to learn about what their son had done, and scolded him for his actions.

Police arrested the suspect on charges of inciting violence, and seized two cell phones as evidence.

Mata said that Caicedo Lopez is a legal resident of Costa Rica, and has no prior criminal record.

He was held for questioning, and released with a restraining order which will be in effect while the incident is investigated. Caicedo Lopez must check in a regular intervals with police, and is not allowed to leave the country while his case is under investigation, explained Mata, who said the case will now proceed through the courts.