Brazilian teenager stabs teacher to death at Sao Paulo school

By Bala Chambers

BUENOS AIRES (AA) - Authorities in Brazil on Monday announced the death of a teacher and confirmed that four other victims in a knife attack at a school in the city of Sao Paulo.

According to a Sao Paulo government press release, a 71-year-old teacher died after a knife attack at the Thomazia Montoro state school.

Another four victims have also received treatment, with their state of health described as "stable" after being taken to hospital, according to the statement.

"I have no words to express my sadness at the news of the attack on students and teachers at the Thomazia Montoro State School, in Vila Sônia," wrote Sao Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas on Twitter.

He confirmed a 13-year-old teenager has been apprehended by authorities and that the priority now is to assist the victims and their families.

Ricardo Nunes, the mayor of Sao Paulo, described it as a tragedy which had left him "without words to express the sadness of what happened at the State School, in Vila Sonia".

Nunes said both security and health authorities sprung into action "immediately" after the attack and pledged to support the victims and their families.

Both the military police and the civil police are carrying out investigations.