Brazilian police have killed a suspect who held at least 13 children at knifepoint inside a school in Curitiba, southern Brazil. All the children survived the incident without injuries.
The hostage-taking occurred on Thursday at CMEI São Braz, where the suspect reportedly broke into a classroom and held children and staff members for approximately two hours. Paraná state police spokesperson Leticia Martins confirmed the incident while speaking to journalists outside the school. She did not disclose the suspect’s identity, the ages of the children involved or the exact circumstances surrounding his death.
According to Martins, the suspect also threatened to pour gasoline on himself and others, raising concerns about the possibility of further casualties. Police negotiators were deployed to the scene and attempted to resolve the situation. However, Martins said officers eventually decided they had no alternative but to neutralise the suspect.
“(The suspect) also threatened to pour gasoline onto himself and others. Our negotiating teams were in place, but saw no alternative but to neutralise him,” she said.
Authorities have not disclosed whether the suspect had a specific motive for entering the school or taking the children hostage. The incident occurred in the São Braz neighbourhood of Curitiba, a city with approximately 1.8 million residents located about 400 kilometres south of São Paulo.
Local media footage showed distressed parents gathering outside the school as police negotiated with the suspect. Following reports of two explosions, officers emerged carrying some of the children to safety.
Curitiba city authorities said the children and school staff would receive psychological support following the ordeal. The incident has raised fresh concerns about school safety and the protection of children during violent emergencies. Police have yet to release further details about the suspect or explain the circumstances that led to the confrontation.
