Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Saturday, December 14, 2024 78° Today's Paper


Top News

Brazilan man kills 4 children with hatchet at daycare center

1/2
Swipe or click to see more
VIDEO COURTESY AP
DENNER OVIDIO/FUTURA PRESS VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS
                                An ambulance is parked outside the private daycare center “Cantinho do Bom Pastor” after a fatal attack on children in Blumenau, Santa Catarina state, Brazil, today. A man with a hatchet jumped over a wall and invaded the daycare center, killing four children and wounding at least five others, authorities said.
2/2
Swipe or click to see more

DENNER OVIDIO/FUTURA PRESS VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS

An ambulance is parked outside the private daycare center “Cantinho do Bom Pastor” after a fatal attack on children in Blumenau, Santa Catarina state, Brazil, today. A man with a hatchet jumped over a wall and invaded the daycare center, killing four children and wounding at least five others, authorities said.

DENNER OVIDIO/FUTURA PRESS VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS
                                An ambulance is parked outside the private daycare center “Cantinho do Bom Pastor” after a fatal attack on children in Blumenau, Santa Catarina state, Brazil, today. A man with a hatchet jumped over a wall and invaded the daycare center, killing four children and wounding at least five others, authorities said.

Related Photo Gallery

Community mourns after deadly hatchet attack at Brazil daycare center

RIO DE JANEIRO >> A man with a hatchet jumped over a wall and invaded a daycare center today in Brazil, killing four children and wounding at least five others, authorities said.

The assailant turned himself in at a police station and did not appear to have any connection with the center, which offers nursery services, preschool education and after-school activities. The dead were between the ages of 5 and 7, authorities said.

Authorities were searching for a motive, the police detective leading the investigation, Ronnie Esteves, told television reporters in Blumenau, a city in southern Brazil, near the Atlantic coast.

Images broadcast on networks showed weeping parents outside the private daycare center called Cantinho do Bom Pastor. The attack took place on the center’s playground, according to the local affiliate of television network Globo. NSC, the affiliate, showed a photo of the suspect with a closely shaved head. Police have yet to confirm his identity.

Blumenau’s mayor, Mário Hildebrandt, suspended classes and said he will declare a 30-day mourning period. The state government said in a statement that rumors circulating on social media of other potential attacks were false.

The mayor said five wounded children were take to hospitals. One was in serious condition.

School attacks in Brazil have happened with greater frequency in recent years. Last week, a student in Sao Paulo fatally stabbed a teacher and wounded several others in Sao Paulo.

Brazil has seen at least one past attack on a daycare center. That attack also occurred in Santa Catarina state, in 2021, when an assailant used a dagger to kill three children under 2 years old and two adults.

From 2000 to 2022, 16 attacks or violent episodes happened in schools, four of them in the second half of last year, according to a report from researchers led by Daniel Cara, an education professor at the University of Sao Paulo. The researchers prepared the report for the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

“There is no greater pain than that of a family who loses its children or grandchildren, even more so in an act of violence against innocent and defenseless kids,” Lula wrote today on Twitter. “My thoughts and prayers are the families of victims and the community of Blumenau in the face of the monstrosity of what occurred.”

Blumenau, a city of 366,000 people, is famous for its annual Oktoberfest festival.

By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the Terms of Service. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our guidelines. Having trouble with comments? Learn more here.