Nine people, including five children, were killed in a stabbing attack in Suriname over the weekend, authorities said. The suspect, identified only as D A, died by suicide while in police custody.
The attack occurred overnight between Saturday, Dec. 27, and Sunday, Dec. 28, in Richelieu, located in the Commewijne district, approximately 25 km east of Paramaribo, the nation’s capital. The 43-year-old suspect attacked multiple victims with a knife, including four of his own children.
Police said the suspect’s children ranged in age from five to 15. Five neighbors, between the ages of seven and 80, were also killed in the rampage. A sixth child and an adult were seriously wounded and are receiving treatment at a hospital in Paramaribo.
According to investigators, the violence followed a phone argument between the suspect and his estranged wife. After the phone call, the suspect allegedly attacked his children with a knife before targeting neighbors inside their homes.
When police officers responded to the scene, the suspect attacked them with the weapon. Officers fired warning shots, but when the suspect continued to pose a threat and failed to comply with commands, police used their firearms. The suspect was shot in the legs during the arrest and taken to a hospital for treatment under police guard.
On December 28, 2025, authorities found the suspect hanged in a cell at a police station. Police confirmed the death was a suicide while the suspect remained in custody.
Investigators said the suspect may have received psychiatric treatment previously, though that information remains under investigation.
President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons addressed the tragedy on Facebook, expressing condolences to the victims’ families. “I wish all the bereaved much strength, resilience, and comfort in this unimaginably difficult time,” Geerlings-Simons said. She also stated that “the entire country is in mourning” following the devastating attack.
The killings have sent shockwaves through Suriname, a former Dutch colony on the northern coast of South America with a population of approximately 600,000. The nation historically maintained one of the lowest murder rates in the region.
That pattern shifted dramatically in 2024, when the murder rate climbed to 30 homicides per 100,000 people. The increase marked a significant departure from the country’s traditionally low levels of violent crime, raising concerns among residents and political leaders about public safety.
The attack in Richelieu represents one of the most devastating incidents of violence in recent Surinamese history. Local residents expressed shock and grief over the attack, which claimed victims across multiple households in the small community.
The incident has prompted widespread discussion about mental health resources and domestic violence prevention in the country.
The investigation into the attack continues as police work to establish a complete timeline of events and determine whether additional factors contributed to the violence. Authorities are also examining the suspect’s background and any previous interactions with law enforcement or mental health services.
The tragedy has raised questions about how such violence could occur in a relatively peaceful community and what warning signs, if any, may have been missed. Community members and officials alike are grappling with the loss of life and searching for answers in the wake of the devastating attack.
