In a bizarre incident, a mob reportedly lynched a Brazilian woman - suspected of being a witch - to death after a Facebook post for a local news outlet spread an alert, claiming that she had been seen abducting children.
The woman died in Guaruja city near Sao Paulo last week.
"Housewife Fabiane Maria de Jesus, 33, died May 5 after being beaten by a group of people from Guarujá two days before," said a report from Folha de Sao Paulo, the country's largest newspaper Tuesday.
"The lynching... was motivated by suspicion that Fabiane was connected to child abductions in the region thought to be linked to black magic rituals. According to military police, however, there is no indication that she had committed such a crime," the report added.
According to the report, a sketch of the woman was included with the alert on Facebook and resembled the victim.
However, administrators for the Facebook page have released a statement denying responsibility for the attack.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
