Police are investigating an incident in Brazil in which four children were hacked to death by a man with a hatchet at a daycare center.
The incident unfolded in the city of Blumenau in the south Brazil near the Atlantic coast on Wednesday.
Authorities said the man jumped over a wall to invade the Cantinho do Bom Pastor day care center and attack the children. Four children were killed and at least five others were injured. Local police said that the children were between the ages of 5 and 7.
The 25-year-old male suspect fled after teachers came to aid the children, and he later turned himself in without incident at a police station.
Police detective Ronnie Esteves told reporters that investigators are still trying to ascertain the motive for the attack. They said that the man did not appear to have a connection to the center, which offers preschool education and after-school activities in addition to day care.
Mário Hildebrandt, the mayor if the city, declared a mourning period for 30 days and suspended classes.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva offered his condolences on Twitter.
“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,” he wrote.
Video on social media showed parents picking up their children from the day care while inside the playground, several bodies could be seen beneath white sheets.
One parent of a child who survived the attack had to tell his son that his friend had died.
“He wasn’t understanding,” Franciele Chequeto said. “I sat down and told him that he no longer will be able to see some of his little friends.”
Here’s more about the horrifying incident:
Man kills 4 children with hatchet at day care center in Brazilwww.youtube.com
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