On October 23, 2023, a 16-year-old boy broke into the Sapopemba State School in São Paulo, Brazil, killed a 17-year-old classmate and injured three other people.

The perpetrator surrendered to the authorities shortly after and was arrested, but until yesterday it was not known that the origin of this attack was the influence of... a young Portuguese.

Suspect used social media to promote extremist attitudes

It was through a computer screen, sitting at his desk at home in the north of the country, that a 17-year-old Portuguese boy encouraged others to commit massacres in schools on the other side of the Atlantic.

His 'modus operandi' was discovered following an investigation of "urgent nature" carried out by the Judiciary Police with the collaboration of the Brazilian Federal Police.

According to the PJ, the suspect "created and manages a group on the Discord platform, already duly identified, where different people who support the same ideals and who intended to commit acts similar to those idealized and propagated by him" gathered.

"Nazi extremist" who encouraged attacks

"Through a particularly violent and extremist ideology, the young man gave advice on the 'modus operandi' and clothing to be worn by the other participants when preparing and carrying out the crimes". Among the "extremist behaviors" he promoted are "serious self-mutilation of young people, mutilation and death of animals, dissemination of Nazi extremist propaganda, instigation and practice of the 'mission' of committing massacres in schools (filmed and transmitted via mobile phone) and, also, sharing and selling child pornography".

This type of conduct was shared in the group, including live broadcasts of attacks on animals that led to their mutilation and death, young people drinking detergent and self-harming with sharp objects.

The October 2023 attack

It was following these behaviors that a firearm attack took place at a school in Sapopemba, Brazil, resulting in the death of a 17-year-old girl.

The shooter had no relationship with the deceased victim, so it was believed to have been a random shooting. The suspect used a .38 caliber revolver that belonged to his father, G1 reported at the time.

The same weapon was shared by the young man on the Discord platform, where he kept in touch with the Portuguese.

PJ seeks more people involved

The young Portuguese man was arrested this Thursday, after being identified through the computer address he used. He is "strongly indicted for the crimes of qualified homicide, serious bodily harm and discrimination and incitement to hatred and violence". In addition to these crimes, there is also "the practice of child pornography crimes".

The PJ carried out house searches, having seized a vast amount of evidence, namely computer and digital material. The investigation will continue, with one of the main lines of investigation being to identify, in international terms, other agents of the crimes in which they may be involved in this network and in this type of conduct.

The detainee will be presented to the judicial authorities today for the application of coercive measures.

Read Also: Young Portuguese man instigated massacres in Brazil. Here's everything we know (Portuguese version)