Suspect Who Held 13 Children at Knifepoint in School Killed by Police After Hours-Long Standoff
Suspect Who Held 13 Children at Knifepoint in School Killed by Police After Hours-Long Standoff
Kimberlee SpeakmanSat, October 10, 2026 at 8:44 PM UTC
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Crime scene tape (stock image)Credit: Getty“[The suspect] also threatened to pour gasoline onto himself and others. Our negotiating teams were in place, but saw no alternative but to neutralize him,” a police spokesperson said -
Authorities in Brazil shot and killed a suspect who took 13 children hostage at a school in Curitiba
The suspect allegedly had a knife and a fuel container, and police negotiators engaged in a standoff that lasted more than two hours
All 13 children were rescued without serious injuries, Curitiba’s mayor said
Authorities in Brazil shot and killed a suspect who allegedly held more than a dozen children hostage.
The suspect allegedly broke into a classroom at CMEI São Braz, a school located in Curitiba, and took the children there hostage on Friday, Oct. 9, according to the and Al Jazeera.
Paraná state police spokesperson Leticia Martins told reporters that the suspect — only identified as a male — jumped one of the walls to get into the school, per AP.
The suspect was carrying a knife and a container of fuel, Al Jazeera reported. He poured the gasoline in the classroom and threatened to set it ablaze.
“[The suspect] also threatened to pour gasoline onto himself and others. Our negotiating teams were in place, but saw no alternative but to neutralize him,” Martins said, per AP.
Brazilian police vehicle (stock image)Credit: Miguel SCHINCARIOL / AFP via getty
Local police commander Alexandre Lopes Dias told reporters, per a video shared by Al Jazeera, that the man had schizophrenia and that authorities later discovered that the weapon he used was “a replica.”
“The children were crying and asking to go to the bathroom, and they were already relieving themselves in their own clothes due to [fear and stress]. They were suffering and… he continued assaulting them. We acted to prevent greater harm,” he said.
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“We entered the classroom using a very tactical approach, with little risk for the children,” the police commander added.
The standoff between police and the suspect lasted more than two hours, Al Jazeera reported. Police cordoned the area and deployed a helicopter while negotiators attempted to get the suspect to surrender.
Special operations forces shot and killed the suspect after he attempted to grab one of the children, according to Al Jazeera. All 13 children were rescued without serious injuries.
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Videos taken of the incident showed upset parents outside the school. Witnesses told AP and Al Jazeera that flashbangs were heard before officers emerged from the school carrying some of the children.
Eduardo Pimentel, mayor of Curitiba, shared in a translated post on X after the incident: “The 13 children from CMEI São Braz are alive and safe! 🙏.”
“After moments of great tension and anguish, this is the news we were all waiting for. I thank God for these preserved lives and the security forces for their decisive action,” he continued. “We will continue to stand by the children, the families and the professionals, offering all the necessary support.”
on People
Source: “AOL Breaking”
