A Nation in Mourning: Nine People, Including Five Children, Stabbed to Death in Suriname

In the early hours of Sunday, December 28, 2025, a quiet residential area in Richelieu, on the outskirts of Paramaribo, Suriname, was rocked by one of the most harrowing acts of violence in recent memory. Nine people, including five children, were stabbed to death in what authorities are calling a mass stabbing attack that has left an entire nation grieving and searching for answers. �

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The tragedy unfolded in the Commewijne District when a 43-year-old man, later identified as Dennis Aroma, armed with a knife, launched an attack in and around his family home. Police reports indicate that the violence began after a phone argument with his estranged wife, during which she refused to personally pick up their children — a dispute that precipitated an unimaginable act of brutality. �

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Horrific Details of the Attack

According to police statements, the suspect first attacked his own children inside the home. Local media and official reports state he stabbed his 11-year-old daughter 44 times in the kitchen, then continued the attack on other family members and neighbors who tried to intervene. �

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In total, nine people were killed, including five minors. Four of the children were the suspect’s own, and at least one other child — a neighbor — was also among the dead. Two additional individuals, including a child and an adult, were seriously injured and taken to the Academic Hospital Paramaribo for treatment. �

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Responding officers arrived at the scene shortly after the violence began. According to official accounts, the suspect attempted to attack the police with his weapon, forcing them to open fire and wound him in the legs before taking him into custody under medical supervision. �

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The Suspect’s Death

What followed only deepened the sense of national tragedy. On December 29, 2025, while in custody at a police station in central Paramaribo, Dennis Aroma was discovered dead in his cell in what authorities are investigating as a suspected suicide. His death came just a day after the massacre reverberated across Suriname and the world. �

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Officials have reported that Aroma had a history of mental health issues, but details about any formal treatment or interventions remain part of an ongoing investigation. �

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A Nation Reacts

The scale and nature of the killings have stunned Suriname, a small South American country of roughly 600,000 people known historically for lower rates of violent crime compared to its regional neighbors. Even so, recent years have seen a spike in violent incidents, prompting broader conversations about social pressures, mental health, and community safety. �

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President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons issued an emotional statement acknowledging the deep pain felt across the nation. “At a time when family and friends should stand together and support one another,” she wrote, “we are faced with the harsh reality… a father who takes the lives of his own children and, in the process, kills his neighbors as well.” She extended condolences to the grieving families and pledged support, including covering funeral expenses as a gesture of solidarity. �

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The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned the violence, expressing solidarity with the people and government of Suriname, and urging a collective rejection of criminal acts that target innocent civilians. �

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The Human Cost

Beyond the statistics, the human cost of the massacre stretches far deeper. Families have lost children, siblings, mothers, fathers, and neighbors in an act of violence that defies easy explanation. Schools, community centers, and everyday routines have been disrupted by grief.

Local residents and neighbors described the scene as surreal, with many recalling fond memories of the victims. The tiny town of Richelieu, usually quiet and peaceful, was suddenly a focal point of nationwide mourning. For many, the tragedy has ignited fears and raised painful questions about how a community can prevent similar events in the future.

Mental Health and Public Safety

Although the investigation into the motives behind the massacre is ongoing, preliminary reports point to possible mental health struggles faced by the attacker. Residents and local media have suggested that those close to him noticed changes in his behavior in the weeks leading up to the event. These accounts highlight the urgent need for better mental health resources and community support systems — not just in Suriname, but globally. �

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This tragedy underscores how easily unresolved psychological distress can escalate into catastrophic violence when left unchecked. It also raises broader questions about how communities, health systems, and authorities can work together to address warning signs and support individuals in crisis before they reach a breaking point.

Looking Forward

As Suriname mourns, the path ahead will involve both collective grief and reflection. Funeral services, community vigils, and memorials are expected across the region as families lay their loved ones to rest. In the longer term, policymakers, mental health professionals, and community leaders will face difficult conversations about prevention, support, and resilience.

The massacre in Richelieu will forever be etched in the collective memory of Suriname — a tragic event that reminds us of the fragility of human life, the importance of compassion, and the urgent need to address the social and psychological pressures that can lead to such soul-shattering violence.