At least nine people, including five children, were killed in a knife attack in the suburbs of the Surinamese capital Paramaribo. The local police announced it on Sunday, reports TASR according to the AP agency.
- The knife attack caused the death of nine people, including five children.
- The incident happened in the suburb of Paramaribo in the Richelieu area.
- The attacker was a 43-year-old man who attacked his children and neighbors.
- The police shot the attacker when he attempted another attack.
- Suriname has traditionally had a low homicide rate, but it increased in 2024.
Among the victims are the attacker’s children and neighbors who came to their aid. Local media reported that the victims were located in several houses. The attack took place in Richelieu in the Commewijne district about 25 kilometers east of Paramaribo. Neighbors said that the 43-year-old man was on the phone with his estranged wife, and after an argument with her, he attacked his own children with a knife and then his neighbors.
Police said officers shot the suspect when he tried to attack them. After the arrest, he was taken to the hospital. A sixth child and another adult were also hospitalized with serious injuries. Suriname, a former Dutch colony, is the smallest independent country in South America with approximately 600,000 inhabitants. It traditionally had one of the lowest homicide rates in the region, however, their number increased significantly to 30 murders per 100,000 inhabitants in 2024according to data from the Insight Crime think tank.
