Neighbours and rescue teams at the scene (Picture: Minas Gerais Police)

Four toddlers and six teachers have died during a horrific arson attack at their nursery this morning.

Damiao Soares dos Santos, 50, a security guard at the school, is believed to have thrown gasoline over children at the nursery, and over himself then set fire to everyone.

He also set himself on fire and is thought to have died in hospital with burns covering almost all his body after the attack at Innocent Children’s People Municipal Education Centre in Janaúba, in Minas Gerias, south east Brazil.

Lieutenant Colonel John Aparecido Nascimento, commander of Military Police told local news: ‘The situation has caused a great deal of commotion in the city.


Impossível precisar números, mas o caos reina nas ruas de Janaúba pic.twitter.com/f4g9bNTiSt — Lucas Félix (@lucasfelix) October 5, 2017

The scene after the tragedy (Picture: Minas Gerais Police)

Security forces at the scene (Picture: Minas Gerais Police)

‘We believe a security guard at the nursery set himself on fire and set fire to children in the kindergarten.’



The local Frangipani Regional Hospital has reported that 40 people including children and adults are being treated for a range of burns, breathing difficulties and injuries.

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Fifteen victims with life threatening injuries have been sent to the capital Belo Horizonte where hospital facilities are better suited to cope than those in the small city where the tragedy occured.

The horrific incident occurred when about 50 students were in the nursery.

Police rescue helicopters were sent out to help support the emergency services.

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