Guadeloupe sees surge in homicides, knife attacks and armed robberies

Guadeloupe’s media outlets are repeatedly opening with grim crime stories, ranging from homicides and attempted killings to knife assaults and traffic-related aggression. The island now ranks second for homicide rates in the French overseas territories, trailing only Guyana. Within a single recent week, authorities documented a stabbing in Capesterre-Belle-Eau, a knife-fueled street clash in Le Gosier, attacks on teachers, and a young man shot dead in Petit-Bourg.

Earlier weeks saw shootings in previously quiet neighborhoods, gunfire near high schools and armed robbery attempts. Business owners, such as a fuel-station employee in Baie-Mahault, have installed cameras and reinforced windows, while some locations employ security guards to deter robberies. Since January, 289 armed-hand robberies have been recorded, marking a 6 % rise compared with the prior year.