crime
Brazil: Four children killed 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 children – four die. President Lula speaks of a “monstrousness”, Blumenau calls for 30 days of mourning.
Four children aged between four and seven were killed in an armed attack on a crèche in southern Brazil. This was said by the Commissioner of the Santa Catarina State Civil Police, Ulisses Gabriel, at a press conference on Wednesday. A spokeswoman for the Santa Catarina military police had previously confirmed to the German Press Agency that the four victims were children under the age of twelve.
According to the military police, a 25-year-old man broke into a private crèche in Blumenau, which was founded and shaped by German immigrants, on Wednesday morning and attacked children. 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 was initially unknown.
Mourning in Blumenau
According to police commissioner Gabriel, other injured children had been taken to hospitals in the city of Blumenau for treatment and were in stable condition. Gabriel emphasized that it was an isolated case – the news of an alleged further attack had previously made the rounds.
Blumenau announced 30 days of mourning. “We deeply regret this tragedy, which marks a sad turning point in the history of our city. May God comfort the hearts of all families,” it said in a statement. Classes in the public education network on Wednesday and Thursday were canceled.
“There is no greater pain than that of a family losing 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 the community of Blumenau for the atrocity that happened at the Bom Pastor daycare center.”
Amok attacks are rare in Brazil
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.