Police end kindergarten hostage crisis in Curitiba, rescuing 13 children and killing gunman
In Curitiba, police freed 13 preschoolers held hostage and shot the assailant, who was later identified as suffering from schizophrenia.
At a municipal kindergarten in Curitiba, a suspect arrived on a bike, jumped the fence and locked himself inside a classroom with 13 children aged four to five, holding a knife, a fake firearm and an inflammable liquid while lighting a lighter. Negotiations with police lasted about two and a half to three hours, during which the assailant kept the children close, even sitting one on his lap, but eventually began striking them as they grew increasingly agitated.
Colonel Alexandre Lopes Dias, commander of the State of Paraná's military police special forces, ordered a tactical intervention, resulting in the gunman's death. Authorities confirmed that at least one child was wounded; all the children were subsequently transferred to medical and fire services for treatment. The mayor, Eduardo Pimentel, announced on Instagram that the children were safe.
Police later identified the shooter as a man with schizophrenia, though his motives remain unclear. This incident adds to a series of recent attacks on Brazilian schools, including a 2023 axe massacre in Blumenau.
Why it matters
It highlights ongoing threats to school safety in Brazil and the challenges of responding to armed intruders.
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