Brazil preschool attack leaves four children dead, injures four others

An attack on a preschool in Brazil left four children dead early Wednesday, the country's military police confirmed. A fifth child was injured and is said to be in critical condition. Three others were also wounded in the attack.

The police said that a man attacked kids with an axe-like weapon after breaking into the preschool located inthe state of Santa Catarina. The private preschool, known as the Good Shepherd Center, is in the city of Blumenau.Brazilian media reports suggest that the weapon resembled a hatchet.

"It is with immense sadness that I received the terrible news that the Good Shepherd preschool in Blumenau was invaded by a murderer who attacked children and employees. Unfortunately, four were killed," Santa Catarina state Governor Jorginho Mello said in a statement.

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Mello also declared three days of mourning following the tragic incident.

Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da also Silva condemned the attack.

"There is no greater pain than a family that loses children or grandchildren, even more so when it is in an act of violence against innocent and defenseless children," he wrote on Twitter.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the victims' families."

The attacker is said to be a 25-year-old man who later turned himself in.

Emergency services are responding to the incident and the police are investigating the matter. Nothing has been revealed about the suspect yet.

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