Brazil school shooting leaves two staff dead in Rio Branco

A 13-year-old boy has been arrested after a shooting at the Sao Jose Institute in Rio Branco, in Brazil's Acre state, left two staff members dead and two other people injured, including a student.

Local authorities said the attack took place at the school in northeast Brazil on Tuesday.

Witnesses said students tried to escape over a wall as gunshots were heard and people fled to the roof of the building.

The state government said the boy's legal guardian, who owned the firearm allegedly used in the attack, was also arrested.

It said classes were suspended for three days across schools in Acre and psychological support teams were mobilised for students and teachers.

Images from the scene showed people crying and hugging outside the school, while one woman was evacuated on a stretcher.

A hotel receptionist next to the school said the wall separating the properties was six metres high and that only one person managed to jump over it.

The shooting has drawn attention because it involved a child suspect, fatalities among school staff and a wider disruption to education in the state.

Police in Acre have opened an investigation, but it was not yet clear whether the attacker was a current or former pupil.

Brazil has seen an increase in school attacks in recent years, with authorities and education officials facing repeated pressure to improve safety at schools.

The latest incident adds to concerns about access to firearms and the vulnerability of school communities.

Officials have not said what led to the shooting, and the condition of the injured people has not been detailed.

#Brazil #RioBranco #Acre #schoolshooting #policeinvestigation