Nine people including five children have been stabbed to death on the outskirts of Suriname's capital, Paramaribo, according to police reports.
In addition to the fatalities, another adult and child were transported to the hospital with serious injuries following the attack. The incident occurred Saturday night, prompting police to respond to the scene quickly.
Officers were able to detain a male suspect after shooting him in the leg. He is now receiving treatment at a local hospital under police guard. Local media outlets suggest that the suspect may have been experiencing mental health issues prior to the attack, which has left the community reeling.
President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons acknowledged in her statement that the attack involved the suspect's family and neighbors, adding to the tragedy of the event.
At a time when family and friends should be holding on to and supporting each other, we are confronted with the harsh reality that there is another side to the world, Geerlings-Simons remarked. I wish all the bereaved much strength, courage and comfort during this unimaginably difficult time.
While Suriname generally has one of the lowest rates of stabbing deaths in the region, incidents of such violence remain rare, and the nation has faced its share of turmoil, including several coups and a civil war since achieving independence from the Netherlands in 1975. Police have indicated they will provide further details about the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident as the investigation unfolds.
