Brazil Police Kill Hostage-Taker, Rescue 13 Children

Brazilian police in Curitiba killed an attacker and rescued 13 children after a hostage standoff at CMEI Sao Braz, a municipal early childhood education center. Officials said the man arrived by bicycle, jumped the gate, barricaded himself in a classroom with children reportedly aged four and five, carried a knife and a fake firearm, spread a gasoline-smelling flammable liquid, and held a lighter while threatening to set a fire. Negotiations lasted about two and a half to three hours. Alexandre Lopes Dias said that during talks the attacker kept the children around him with one on his lap, and that once the children grew distressed and the attacker began assaulting them physically, police chose a tactical intervention. Local media reported shots and sounds like flash bangs; police then carried children out. Lopes Dias said at least one child was wounded; other accounts said no children were injured. Leticia Martins said negotiators saw no alternative but to neutralize him after gasoline threats. Eduardo Pimentel said the children are alive and safe after anguishing moments. Authorities said the attacker was identified as schizophrenic; his motive was not clear. City hall announced psychological support. An April 2023 ax attack at a Blumenau daycare that killed four children was cited as a prior incident.