Bad Things, Children, etc. -- v.2009.01.23.BE

DENDERMONDE, Belgium – A young man with a gruesomely painted black-and-white face went on a rampage at a Belgian day care center Friday, stabbing two babies and a female worker to death and seriously wounding 12 others.  Sobbing parents rushed to the scene and to nearby hospitals. Shocked rescue workers spoke of finding crying, bleeding toddlers scattered inside the center. Medical workers at six hospitals sprang into action, performing emergency operations to save the 10 children and two adults badly wounded in the attack....

Prosecutor Christian Du Four said the 20-year-old attacker rode his bike up to the Fabeltjesland day care center about 10 a.m., found it unlocked and went in.  "After he entered he started slashing at everyone he ran into ... the day care workers, the children," Du Four told a news conference.  He said the man wielded one, nearly 8-inch (20-centimeter) knife and had painted his face white with black patches around the eyes.

One worker tried but failed to disarm the intruder and another was stabbed to death, Du Four said. In the mayhem that ensued, the attacker simply walked out and got back on his bicycle before being arrested in a nearby supermarket shortly afterward....

Nine of the 21 children at the center during the attack were unharmed, Demeyer said.

Nine of the 21 children at the center during the attack were unarmed, Demeyer said.