Police rescue 13 children from hostage situation at Curitiba kindergarten

On Friday, October 9, 2026, a man took 13 children, aged four and five, hostage at the CMEI São Braz municipal kindergarten in Curitiba, Brazil. The perpetrator, who arrived on a bicycle, breached the perimeter and barricaded himself in a room with the children, threatening them with a knife and an object initially mistaken for a firearm. He poured flammable liquid in the room and brandished a lighter, threatening to set the building on fire.

Following three hours of negotiations, police special forces from Paraná intervened, neutralising and killing the suspect. All 13 children were rescued and transferred to emergency services for medical evaluation. According to Colonel Alexandre Lopes Dias, at least one child sustained facial injuries during the ordeal. While five children underwent medical assessment, all were successfully removed from danger. Authorities have not yet disclosed the motive behind the attack.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing as the community processes the event. The operation highlights the rapid response of local law enforcement in addressing the immediate threat to the children's lives.