Brazilian Police Kill Suspect After 13 Children Held Hostage At School

Brazilian police killed a man who held 13 children hostage at knifepoint for nearly three hours at a preschool in Curitiba, southern Brazil, on Friday, October 9. The children, aged four and five, were rescued after a tactical operation by special police forces, although some reportedly suffered injuries during the ordeal.

The incident took place at CMEI São Braz, a municipal early childhood education centre in the São Braz neighbourhood of Curitiba, the capital of Paraná state. According to police, the suspect entered the school by jumping over a wall and forced his way into a classroom, where he held children and staff members hostage.

The man was reportedly carrying a knife, a replica firearm and flammable material. During the standoff, he spread the inflammable substance inside the classroom and threatened to set himself and others on fire, raising fears of a potentially deadly blaze.

Negotiators from the Military Police of Paraná, including the elite Special Police Operations Battalion (BOPE), attempted to persuade the suspect to release the hostages. However, the situation deteriorated when he allegedly became aggressive and assaulted some of the children.

Police decided to enter the classroom tactically after assessing that the danger to the children had increased. According to police commander Alexandre Lopes Dias, the suspect attempted to reach one of the children during the intervention and was killed by officers.

Although initial reports said no children were injured, subsequent accounts indicated that some had been assaulted. Five children were taken for medical evaluation, and one reportedly had visible injuries to the face. Authorities said all 13 children were rescued.

The suspect's identity has not been officially disclosed. Police said he was identified as a man who suffered from schizophrenia, but authorities have not established a motive for the incident. A letter reportedly dropped by the suspect as he entered the school was collected and will be examined as part of the investigation.

The crisis prompted anxious scenes outside the school as parents waited for updates during negotiations. Police also heard reports of two explosions shortly before officers emerged with the rescued children.

School staff helped prevent further danger by evacuating other students from the premises. Curitiba's municipal administration has arranged psychological support for the children, their families and school employees as authorities investigate the incident.