Knife Attack Near Suriname Capital Kills Nine, Including Five Children

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

PARAMARIBO/AMSTERDAM (Worthy News) – A knife attack outside Suriname’s capital Paramaribo killed at least nine people, including five children, police said Sunday, in one of the deadliest violent incidents in the small country’s recent history.

The attack occurred in Richelieu, a small community in Suriname’s Commewijne District, about 25 kilometers (15 miles) east of Paramaribo, authorities confirmed.

Police said the victims included the attacker’s own children as well as neighbors who tried to help. Local media reported that victims were found at multiple homes.

The suspect—a 43-year-old man—allegedly attacked after a telephone argument with his estranged wife, according to police and witness accounts.

Neighbors said the violence began after the woman indicated she would not pick up the children herself but would send someone else.

PRESIDENT REACTS, DUTCH MEDIA REPORT SHOCK

In a statement, Suriname’s Police Corps said officers who responded were also threatened, and the suspect was injured during his arrest. He is now recovering in a hospital under guard, police added.

Authorities said a sixth child and another adult were seriously injured and remain hospitalized in Paramaribo.

Suriname’s President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons expressed condolences, saying the attacker took the lives of his children and neighbors.

“I wish all the bereaved much strength, resilience, and comfort in this unimaginably difficult time,” she wrote in Dutch, Suriname’s official language.

Dutch public broadcasters and major newspapers reported extensively on the tragedy, highlighting Suriname’s historical ties to the Netherlands as a former Dutch colony.

MASS VIOLENCE

Dutch outlets underscored the rarity of such mass violence in Suriname and relayed the president’s statement.

That also noted police confirmation that the suspect was taken into custody and that the investigation is ongoing.

Suriname, the smallest independent nation in South America, has a population of about 600,000 and has traditionally recorded low homicide rates.

However, crime-monitoring data show the murder rate rose sharply in 2024, to around 30 homicides per 100,000 residents, drawing renewed attention to public safety and domestic violence prevention.

Police said the investigation continues and urged residents to seek help if they experience domestic threats or violence.

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