Brazil gunman kills 12 children at Rio school

A gunman has opened fire at a school in Brazil, killing at least 12 of its pupils.

A suicide note was left by the attacker, named as ex-student Wellington Menezes de Oliveira. Having reportedly told staff at the school in Rio de Janeiro that he was there to make a speech, he began shooting, then killed himself as police moved in.

Brazil has called this an unprecedented tragedy.

More than 20 other people were hurt in the attack. A football pitch nearby was used by helicopters taking injured children to hospital.

President Dilma Rousseff struggled to contain her emotions as she called for a moment of silence to honour the youngsters whose lives were cut short.

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