World
Man armed with knife invades CMEI in Curitiba and is shot by police
A man invaded a CMEI in Curitiba this afternoon, taking 13 children hostage until being shot by the police.
On the afternoon of Friday, October 9, a man armed with a knife invaded a Municipal Center for Early Childhood Education (CMEI) located in the São Braz neighborhood of Curitiba. According to information from the Military Police of Paraná (PM-PR), the individual was able to jump over the wall and entered the CMEI premises, where he took a classroom with 13 children hostage for a period that exceeded three hours.
The children, aged between 4 and 5 years, were celebrating Children's Day. During the incident, authorities attempted to establish a dialogue with the man, but negotiations were unsuccessful. Captain João Roberto Galeto Alves of the Special Tactical Police Battalion (BPRONE) was involved in the operations conducted at the scene.
In addition to holding the children hostage, the man threatened to set the CMEI on fire. After attempts to negotiate with the kidnapper, the situation culminated in police intervention, which decided to act, leading to the suspect's death around 6:20 PM.
According to the police, the man suffered from schizophrenia, a piece of information that was disclosed by the Paraná State Secretary of Public Security (Sesp). The rescue of the children occurred without any serious injuries during the process, and all were safely evacuated.
The incident generated significant concern among families and the school community, given the severity of the situation and the emotional state of the children involved. The mobilized police units included special teams and negotiators.
Local administration emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety and lives of everyone involved, issuing a statement that reiterated the authorities' priority in crisis situations like this, also highlighting the need for psychological support for the children and their families following the incident.