Four kids are dead and five are hurt — one with serious injuries — after a man carrying an axe-like weapon attacked a daycare center in southern Brazil early on Wednesday, authorities said.
The names of the victims have not been disclosed, but authorities said three boys and one girl, with ages ranging from 5 to 7 years old, died in the attack.
A local hospital confirmed it’s treating kids “from 0 to 2 years old,” according to local reports.
The incident happened in the city of Blumenau in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, about 370 miles south of São Paulo.
Police say a 25-year-old man, who has yet to be identified, arrived on a motorcycle and jumped over the school’s wall. He then started randomly attacking the kids, who were playing in the school’s park.
“When he saw that the teachers were defending the kids, he jumped over the wall again and left,” Márcio Alberto Filippi, of Blumenau’s military police, told CNN Brazil.
The suspect then walked to a police station and turned himself in, authorities said.
Ulisses Gabriel, the head of the state police, told reporters authorities are now looking into whether anyone else is involved, as well as how the suspect planned the attack.
Santa Catarina Governor Jorginho Mello confirmed the fatalities in a statement.
“It is with immense sadness that I received the terrible news that the Cantinho Bom Pastor (Little Corner of the Good Shepherd) preschool in Blumenau was invaded by a murderer who attacked children and employees. Unfortunately, four were killed,” Mello said.
A strong security presence remained in place Wednesday morning.
Blumenau Mayor Mário Hildebrandt said classes in the city were canceled Wednesday and Thursday.
The president of Brazil, Luís Inácio Lula da Silva, took to social media to denounce the “absurd act of hatred and cowardliness.”
“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,” Lula tweeted. “My condolences and prayers to the families of the victims and the community of Blumenau in the face of the monstrosity that occurred at the Bom Pastor daycare center.”
Nearly two years ago, a teenager carrying a machete stormed into another nursery in Santa Catarina killing three young children and two adults. Two girls — both under the age of 2 — and one teacher died at the scene. One other child and an employee died at the hospital.