Region of Concern: Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil
Written By Robert Wargaski; Edited by Amy McGee and Cameron Munoz
Date: April 5, 2023
Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil[1]
Event: On Wednesday, April 5, a man entered a daycare in Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil, wielding a hatchet. He attacked multiple individuals, killing four children and wounding at least three others. Jorginho Mello, the governor of Santa Catarina, condemned the attack, with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva calling the attack a monstrosity.[2] Children between the ages of five and seven were killed. Blumenau’s mayor suspended classes and called for a 30-day mourning period. The perpetrator is in custody, and the motive for the attack is currently unknown.[3]
Significance: Class suspensions will likely disrupt daily educational instruction for children in Blumenau. Prolonged time away from school will likely negatively impact children's academic, social, and emotional states. Security assessments and improvements will likely increase children's time away from school. Upon returning, the optics of increased security have a roughly even chance of instilling fear and anxiety in students. If school security measures are not fixed timely, children will likely be at risk of malnutrition, injury, or poor social development. These problems have a roughly even chance of straining pediatric emergency services within Blumenau. Poor social development will likely increase instances of emotional outbursts and physical aggression in the school. Increased cases of aggression will likely strain health resources within the school.
Recommendations: Law enforcement should work to increase physical security personnel around the school during the class suspension. This security presence should continue once classes resume. In the interim period, the Blumenau government should provide family and childcare programs to mitigate any risk of malnutrition, injury, or poor social development. To increase enrollment in these programs, the government could provide food for children attending, similar to what was provided at the daycare. Other daycares within Blumenau could aid in helping the government implement this program, providing guidance and staffing as needed.
[2] Four Children Killed In Hatchet Attack On Brazil Preschool, Barron’s, April 2023, https://www.barrons.com/news/four-children-killed-in-hatchet-attack-on-brazil-preschool-authorities-f5821c4e
[3] Hatchet attack at Brazil daycare center leaves 4 children dead, CBS News, April 2023, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hatchet-attack-brazil-preschool-four-children-dead/