Nine Dead Including Five Children in Suriname Knife Attack

At least nine people, including five children, were killed in a brutal knife attack near Suriname’s capital, Paramaribo, on Sunday. The victims included four of the suspect’s children and neighbours who tried to intervene, while a neighbour’s child also lost their life. The attack reportedly occurred at multiple homes in Richelieu, a district about 25 kilometers east of the capital.

Neighbours said the 43-year-old suspect began the assault after a phone argument with his estranged wife, who refused to pick up the children herself and arranged for someone else to do so. Following the disagreement, the suspect attacked his children and then went on to target neighbours in their homes.

Suriname’s Police Corps said the suspect resisted arrest and attempted to attack officers when they arrived. He was injured in the process and is now recovering in a hospital. Authorities also confirmed that a sixth child and another adult were seriously injured and are receiving medical treatment in Paramaribo.

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President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons expressed condolences on her official Facebook page, highlighting the scale of the tragedy. “I wish all the bereaved much strength, resilience, and comfort in this unimaginably difficult time,” she wrote, reflecting the nation’s shock and grief.

Suriname, with a population of around 600,000, traditionally reports one of the lowest murder rates in South America. However, 2024 saw a sharp rise in violence, with the murder rate increasing to 30 homicides per 100,000 residents, according to data from Insight Crime, underscoring concerns over emerging public safety challenges.

The investigation into the attack is ongoing, with authorities seeking to understand the motives and circumstances behind this unprecedented act of violence in the country.

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