There was a tragedy in the Brazilian town of Blumenau, in the state of Santa Catarina. On Wednesday, a 25-year-old man broke into a daycare center and killed four children with an axe. He left a fifth injured. The deceased were three boys and one girl, ranged in age from five to seven years old.
This is not the first attack against an education center in Brazil. In the same state of Santa Catarina, in 2019, two former students of Ana educational center killed eight people, including students and teachers.
🇧🇷 | Horror en Brasil: un hombre de 25 años mató a cuatro niños con un hacha en una guardería de Blumenau. pic.twitter.com/Iks6PKCq02
— Alerta Mundial (@AlertaMundial2) April 5, 2023
According to Brazilian authorities, the events occurred early in the morning, after the culprit jumped over the school wall armed with an axe. One teacher managed to lock herself and the rest of the children in a classroom. Shortly thereafter, the assailant surrendered to military police.
According information from Brazilian national media, the assailant has not made any statement and kept silent. The reasons that led him to commit this crime are not yet known, but everything points to some kind of mental instability. According to statements made by Commissioner Ulises Gabriel, who is in charge of the case, a police unit specialized in computer crimes is analyzing the defendant's electronic devices is searching for further evidence and accomplices.
Brazilian President Lula da Silva condemned the attack on Twitter.
Não há dor maior que a de uma família que perde seus filhos ou netos, ainda mais em um ato de violência contra crianças inocentes e indefesas. Meus sentimentos e preces para as famílias das vítimas e comunidade de Blumenau diante da monstruosidade ocorrida na creche Bom Pastor.
— Lula (@LulaOficial) April 5, 2023