Brazilian police have rescued 13 children who were held hostage at a kindergarten in Curitiba, killing the suspect, who had threatened to set fire to the building. At least one child was wounded. The mayor said all 13 are alive and safe.
Police in the southern Brazilian city of Curitiba rescued 13 children taken hostage at a kindergarten on Friday, October 9, Al Jazeera reported, citing AFP and the Associated Press.
What Happened
Paraná state police spokesperson Letícia Martins said the suspect jumped the gate, broke into a classroom and held 13 children hostage in the São Braz neighbourhood. He spread a flammable substance in the room and held a lighter. He was carrying a knife and what was first believed to be a firearm but turned out to be fake.
Talks lasted up to three hours. The commander of the military police special forces unit, Alexandre Lopes Dias, said the children became agitated and the attacker began hitting them. “Once we realised that the kids were becoming increasingly upset and that the attacker started assaulting them physically, we opted for a tactical intervention to avoid a greater problem,” he said.
Officers went in and killed the suspect. Local media reported flash bangs before officers emerged carrying children.
The Children
- All 13 children were rescued alive
- At least one was wounded; the commander did not say who or what injured the child
- The children and school staff will receive psychological support, Curitiba City Hall said
Curitiba’s mayor, Eduardo Pimentel, wrote on Instagram: “The 13 children are alive and safe! After anguishing and tense moments, this is the news we were all waiting for.”
The Suspect
Police did not release the man’s name or say how he was killed. Lopes Dias said he was identified as a man who suffered from schizophrenia. Martins did not say whether the suspect had given a specific reason for his actions.
Background
Curitiba is a city of 1.8 million, about 400 km (250 miles) south of São Paulo. Brazil has seen multiple attacks on schools in recent years. In April 2023, a man killed four children with an axe at a day care in Blumenau, also in the south.
Image: The skyline of Curitiba, Brazil, June 2026 (file photo). Photo: Wilfredor / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
