A 25-year-old man broke into a daycare center on Wednesday and killed four children with a hatchet. The incident happened in the Brazilian municipality of Blumenau. At least five other children were injured, a spokeswoman for the Santa Catarina state military police confirmed to the dpa news agency.
The fatalities are said to be three boys and one girl between the ages of four and seven. At the time of the crime, 40 children are said to have stayed there. An employee managed to get a group of children in the toilet to safety from the attacker.
Blumenau is located in southern Brazil and is a city founded and shaped by German immigrants with around 360,000 inhabitants. The perpetrator is said to come from the neighboring state of Paraná. According to the military police and the city of Blumenau, the 25-year-old armed with an ax entered the private daycare center on Wednesday morning. He is said to have turned himself in to the police after the crime.
The motive of the perpetrator is not yet known. The 25-year-old had been conspicuous several times in the past. Among other things, he is said to have stabbed his stepfather.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva wrote on Twitter: “There is no greater pain than that of a family who loses their children or grandchildren, especially in an act of violence against innocent and defenseless children.” He also expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and the community of Blumenau. “For anyone with Christian values, a tragedy like this is unacceptable, a behavior, an absurd act of hate,” said Lula. Blumenau declared a 30-day period of mourning.
Just a few days ago, a teacher was killed in a knife attack at a school in São Paulo. Other people were also injured. The police arrested a 13-year-old.
Sources: Tagesschau, “Bild”, dpa
