Nine people, including five children, were killed in a stabbing at a home in Richelieu, Commewijne, on Dec. 27–28. Two others — a sixth child and an adult — were seriously injured and hospitalized at Academic Hospital Paramaribo. The suspect, whose name has not been released, was shot in the legs while resisting arrest and is now hospitalized. Police say the investigation is ongoing and more details will be released as they emerge.
Nine Dead, Including Five Children, After Stabbing Attack at Home in Suriname
Korps Politie Suriname/FacebookA Suriname Police Corps vehicle.
Nine people — four adults and five children — were fatally stabbed at a private residence in Richelieu, Commewijne district, Suriname, late on Dec. 27 into the early hours of Dec. 28, authorities said.
Police said the suspect, whose identity has not been released, attacked occupants inside the home with a sharp object. Two additional victims — a sixth child and another adult — sustained serious injuries and were transported by ambulance to the Academic Hospital Paramaribo, where they remain admitted for treatment.
Responding officers from the Eastern Region confronted the suspect at the scene. Police say the man attempted to attack officers and was wounded by gunfire to his legs during the arrest. He has been hospitalized and is under police supervision.
RANU ABHELAKH/AFP via GettyRiot police are photographed in Paramaribo, Suriname, in March 2023.
Official Response and Ongoing Investigation
In an official statement, police said investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances and that "further details regarding the true circumstances of this tragic attack will follow." Authorities have not released the names of the victims or the suspect.
President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons posted on Facebook that she was "shocked by the violent incident in Commewijne," describing it as an event where "a father who takes the lives of his own children and at the same time kills his neighbors." She offered condolences and wished strength to the bereaved.
Local media, citing neighbours, suggested the suspect may have had a history of mental health problems; police have not publicly confirmed that information. Investigators continue to interview witnesses, review physical evidence and piece together a timeline to determine motive and the full sequence of events.
The incident has shocked the small community in Commewijne and drawn national attention as authorities work to provide answers to grieving families.
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