Four children have been killed after a man armed with a hatchet attacked a nursery in Brazil.
Three others were taken to hospital while the 25-year-old man was arrested in Blumenau, in the country’s south.
He climbed over a wall to get into the nursery, reports say.
Firefighters said the man was armed with a hatchet.
Parents were seen weeping at the Cantinho do Bom Pastor private daycare centre.
Brazil’s president Lula said: “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 defenceless children.”
Santa Catarina’s state governor Jorginho Mello said: “May God comfort the hearts of all families in this moment of deep pain.”
School attacks were uncommon but in recent years the tragedies have become more frequent.
Last week, a teacher was stabbed to death by a student who wounded others in Sao Paolo.
An 18-year-old man killed two employees and three toddlers at a creche in Saudades, about 325 miles west of Blumenau in the same state of Santa Catarina.
By Will Taylor@WillTaylor_news
