crime
Brazil: At least four dead in crèche attack
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva: “My condolences and prayers to the families of the victims.” photo
© Marcelo Camargo/Agencia Brazil/dpa
A 25-year-old enters a facility in southern Brazil and attacks local children, killing at least four. President Lula speaks of a “monstrosity”.
At least four people were killed in an armed attack on a daycare center in southern Brazil. This was confirmed by a spokeswoman for the military police of the state of Santa Catarina of the German Press Agency. Other victims were taken to hospitals in the city of Blumenau, which was dominated by German immigrants, for treatment.
Accordingly, a 25-year-old had penetrated the private facility and had attacked children under the age of twelve. According to the Brazilian news portal “G1”, he is said to have been armed with an axe. According to the police, the attacker turned himself in at the station. He was arrested and handed over to the civilian police. His motive is not yet known.
Lula expresses his condolences
“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,” Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva wrote on Twitter. “My condolences and prayers go out to the families of the victims and to the Blumenau community for the atrocity that happened at the Bom Pastor daycare center.”
The attack came less than ten days after a teacher was seriously injured in a knife attack at a school in the Brazilian metropolis of São Paulo, and other victims were injured. A 13-year-old was arrested. After a rampage in the city of Suzano in March 2019 that killed ten people, police controls at schools in São Paulo were stepped up.
The act of a young knife attacker about two years ago, who broke into a preschool in southern Brazil and killed five people, also caused horror.
Compared to other countries, such attacks are rather rare in the largest country in Latin America. While Brazil is one of the countries with the highest rates of violent crime, organized crime, petty criminals and police violence account for most of it.