In a shocking incident in Suriname, a South American country, on Sunday, December 28, a man used a sharp object to stab and kill 9 people, including 5 children. According to reports from the Surinamese police quoted by the BBC, the attack took place from the evening of December 27 to the early morning of December 28 in Richelieu town, Commewijne district, about 25 kilometers east of the capital Paramaribo. The assailant carried out the attacks at his residence and its surroundings, resulting in the deaths of 4 adults and 5 children. Another child and an adult were seriously injured and were rushed to the emergency room at the Academic Hospital in Paramaribo for treatment.
The police confirmed on Sunday that the 9 victims included 4 biological children of the suspect and neighbors who came to assist. The identity of the suspect has not been disclosed to the public. Officers from the Eastern Division who arrived at the scene were also attacked by the suspect, prompting them to open fire. The suspect was shot in the leg and injured. He is currently receiving treatment at the hospital and is under heavy police guard.
Local media reports suggest that the suspect has a history of mental illness. The incident reportedly began when the suspect had a heated argument with his wife over the phone, leading him to brutally attack his 11-year-old daughter and other children in a fit of rage. Neighbors who rushed to intervene were also attacked.
Suriname’s President, Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, expressed her condolences on Facebook on Sunday, stating, “I hope that all the bereaved find more strength, courage, and comfort in this unimaginably difficult time.”
Suriname, a former Dutch colony, is the smallest independent country in South America with a population of around 600,000. Incidents of deadly violent attacks like this are rare in the country. Since gaining independence in 1975, Suriname has experienced several coups and civil wars, but in recent years, the murder rate has been on the rise.