CNN
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At least three people have been killed and 11 others injured Friday after a gunman opened fireplace at two colleges in the Brazilian state of Espirito Santo, in line with native authorities.
The assaults occurred in the small city of Aracruz, 50 miles north of the state capital, Vitoria.
The alleged shooter – who was seen in safety footage carrying a semi-automatic weapon, carrying army apparel and a face overlaying – has been arrested by police. The suspect has not but been recognized by authorities, however native media, together with CNN affiliate CNN Brasil, have reported the person to be a 16-year-old.
Espirito Santo governor Renato Casagrande, in a Twitter put up Friday, confirmed “security teams caught up with the attacker who, cowardly, attacked two schools in Aracruz. I declared three days of official mourning as a sign of grief for the irreparable losses. We will continue to investigate the reasons and, soon, we will have new clarifications.”
The governor mentioned the assaults occurred on the Primo Bitti school and the Praia de Coqueiral Educational Center.
Speaking to the media, Public Safety minister Marcio Celante mentioned police consider the suspect acted alone primarily based on safety video, however acknowledged additional investigation was wanted to establish extra particulars on the incidents.
Celante additionally revealed a few of what the safety video confirmed.
“The first criminal action was to access the school by breaking the padlock. He had access to the teachers’ room,” Celante mentioned, including that “afterwards, he moved to another school, where he made more victims.”
Brazil’s president-elect, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, referred to as the incident an “absurd tragedy.”
“It’s with sadness that I was informed about the attacks at the Aracruz schools in Espirito Santo. My solidarity goes to the family of the victims in this absurd tragedy,” Lula tweeted.
“My support goes out to Governor Casagrande in investigating the case and comforting the communities surrounding the two affected schools,” he added.
Brazilian minister Victor Godoy additionally joined his authorities friends in expressing his sympathies.
“My condolences to the parents, relatives and employees of the Primo Bitti State Elementary and Middle School and the Praia de Coqueiral Educational Center, in Aracruz. I submit for the record my repudiation of this manifestation of violence,” Godoy wrote on Twitter.