In brief
In a devastating event, nine people, among them five children, were stabbed to death on the outskirts of Paramaribo, Suriname's capital. The police responded quickly, detaining a male suspect who was shot in the leg and taken to the hospital. Local officials have highlighted potential mental health issues as a contributing factor. President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons expressed condolences and concerns over the violent reality faced by families during this time.
Nine people including five children have been stabbed to death on the outskirts of Suriname's capital, Paramaribo, police have said. Another adult and child were taken to hospital after sustaining serious injuries in the attack, city police stated.Officers were called to an address on a road leading out of the capital on Saturday night, where they detained a male suspect after shooting him in the leg. He was also taken to hospital for treatment and is under police guard.Local media has suggested the man was suffering from mental health issues, citing officials and residents, while the South American nation's president said his family and neighbours were among the victims.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, Jennifer Geerlings-Simons said in a statement, extending her wishes for strength and comfort to the bereaved.Police indicated that more details regarding the circumstances of the incident would be forthcoming. Suriname is known for having one of the lowest rates of stabbing deaths in the region, making such violent incidents rare. The country has also experienced political instability, enduring several coups and a civil war since gaining independence from the Netherlands in 1975.
