This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/8416667.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Arrest in Brazil needle boy case Arrest in Brazil needle boy case
(about 5 hours later)
A Brazilian toddler has been found with some 40 needles inside him, which police say his stepfather inserted during a possible "black magic" ritual.A Brazilian toddler has been found with some 40 needles inside him, which police say his stepfather inserted during a possible "black magic" ritual.
Police said Roberto Carlos Magalhaes has confessed to sticking the sewing needles into the two-year-old boy, who is in intensive care at a hospital.Police said Roberto Carlos Magalhaes has confessed to sticking the sewing needles into the two-year-old boy, who is in intensive care at a hospital.
Mr Magalhaes said his mistress told him to ritually kill the child to take revenge on his wife. Mr Magalhaes said his mistress had told him to ritually kill the child to take revenge on his wife.
Doctors are set to begin operating on Thursday to remove some of the needles.Doctors are set to begin operating on Thursday to remove some of the needles.
The toddler was taken to hospital in the north-eastern Bahia state by his mother, complaining of stomach pains and vomiting.The toddler was taken to hospital in the north-eastern Bahia state by his mother, complaining of stomach pains and vomiting.
X-rays showed scores of sewing needles inside his neck, torso and legs. At least one had punctured a lung, another his liver.X-rays showed scores of sewing needles inside his neck, torso and legs. At least one had punctured a lung, another his liver.
'Revenge attack''Revenge attack'
Police said Mr Magalhaes broke down and confessed after being arrested. Police said Mr Magalhaes had broken down and confessed after being arrested.
"He did that for revenge, to get back at his wife," the police chief the town of Ibotirama, Helder Fernandes Santana, was quoted as saying by AFP news agency. "He did that for revenge, to get back at his wife," the police chief in the town of Ibotirama, Helder Fernandes Santana, was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.
"His mistress told him to kill the child through a macabre ritual," Mr Santana said."His mistress told him to kill the child through a macabre ritual," Mr Santana said.
The mother told police she suspected that the boy had been the victim of a black magic ritual after she found suspicious objects in the home she shared with Mr Magalhaes - her husband of six months - and her six children. The boy's mother told police she suspected the child had been the victim of a black magic ritual after she found suspicious objects in the home she shared with Mr Magalhaes - her husband of six months - and her six children.
Doctors said most of the needles will be removed, but not the ones inside organs as their removal could cause more damage. Doctors said most of the needles would be removed, but not the ones inside organs as their removal could cause more damage.
They said there were no signs of wounds on the boy.They said there were no signs of wounds on the boy.
Reports say the boy is in serious condition, but that he has shown some improvement since being admitted to hospital on Sunday. Reports say the boy is in a serious condition, but that he has shown some improvement since being admitted to hospital on Sunday.