Two Dutch women, 69 and 80, among nine killed in Suriname stabbings

Two Dutch women, a 69-year-old from Rotterdam and an 80-year-old resident of Suriname, were among nine people killed in a stabbing spree over the weekend, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed. The ministry declined to provide further details about the victims’ identities but said it is assisting the families of the deceased.

The attacks occurred in the early hours of Sunday. The suspect, a 43-year-old man, reportedly became increasingly aggressive and disoriented in the weeks leading up to the killings, a situation that worsened following the recent end of his relationship with his wife.

Six children were among the dead. The suspect was the father of four of them. He was arrested by police after the attacks but died by suicide in his jail cell the following day.

Suriname’s government has designated Friday, January 2, 2026, as a national day of mourning. Flags at all government buildings will fly at half-staff, and citizens and businesses are encouraged to follow suit. Minister of the Interior Marinus Bee said the observance is “to express sympathy and solidarity with the families, the survivors, and the entire Surinamese population.”

Dutch caretaker Prime Minister Dick Schoof conveyed his condolences to President Simons and the people of Suriname, saying, “A father who takes the lives of his children and, in the process, kills his neighbors as well. I wish all those in mourning much strength, courage, and comfort in this unimaginably difficult time.”