2023 Blumenau school attack
| Blumenau school attack | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil |
| Coordinates | 26°54′56″S 49°06′35″W / 26.91568°S 49.10983°W |
| Date | April 5, 2023 09:00 (UTC-3) |
| Target | Cantinho Bom Pastor nursery |
Attack type | Mass stabbing |
| Weapons | Hatchet |
| Deaths | 4 |
| Injured | 4 |
| Motive | Unknown |
| Accused | Luiz Henrique de Lima |
On April 5, 2023, a hatchet attack occurred at a daycare center in Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil.[1] Four children between the ages of five and seven were killed; four others were injured.[1][2][3] A 25-year-old male suspect, who is believed to have jumped over a wall to gain access to the school, surrendered at a nearby police station.[2][3]
Background
School attacks increased in Brazil in the years prior to the attack.[4] Out of 16 school attacks in Brazil between 2000 and 2022, four occurred in the second half of 2022.[4] A previous attack on a daycare occurred in 2021, when an 18-year-old man killed three children and two adults at a daycare in Saudades, Santa Catarina.[4] A week prior to the Blumenau attack, a student in São Paulo killed a teacher and wounded five others in a stabbing attack.[5][4]
Suspect
The Military Police identified the suspected perpetrator as Luiz Henrique de Lima (born December 19, 1997), a 25-year-old man from Salto do Lontra, Paraná.[6] He worked as a motorcycle courier prior to the attack.[6] Lima posted on Facebook after allegedly attacking the school.[6] Police said that the suspect did not appear to have any connection to the daycare center.[4]
Reactions
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated in a tweet, "There is no greater pain than that of a family that loses its children or grandchildren, even more so in an act of violence against innocent and defenseless children".[2] Santa Catarina governor Jorginho Mello also gave his condolences to the families of those killed in the attack.[2] Blumenau mayor Mário Hildebrandt suspended classes and stated he would declare a 30-day mourning period.[4]
References
- ^ a b "Brazil kindergarten attack: Man kills four children in Blumenau". BBC News. 2023-04-05. Archived from the original on 2023-04-05. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
- ^ a b c d Trucco, Florencia (2023-04-05). "Four children killed in axe attack at daycare center in southern Brazil". CNN. Archived from the original on 2023-04-05. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
- ^ a b "Axe attack at Brazilian pre-school leaves four children dead and five injured". The Guardian. 2023-04-05. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2023-04-05. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
- ^ a b c d e f "Brazil man kills 4 children with hatchet at day care center". Associated Press. 2023-04-05. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
- ^ "Teenager fatally stabs teacher, wounds five people in Brazil". Associated Press. March 27, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Assassino de Blumenau fez postagem enigmática nas redes após matar quatro crianças" [Murderer from Blumenau made enigmatic post on social media after killing four children]. Brasil 247 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2023-04-05. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
