An armed gang attacked a small town in Haiti, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 people, including children, while about 50 others were injured.
The Gran Grif gang members carried out the rampage in Pont-Sondé, located approximately 71km northwest of the capital, Port-au-Prince, in the central Artibonite region. Video footage showed individuals fleeing the violence on motorbikes and foot, while a government prosecutor labelled the incident as “a massacre,” as reported by the Associated Press.
Large portions of Haiti have fallen under the control of armed gangs, prompting a UN-backed policing mission spearheaded by officers from Kenya to regain authority. Up to 1,000 Kenyan police officers are expected to participate in the multinational police task force.
The precise number of casualties from the attack remains uncertain, with local media indicating over 50 fatalities. At the same time, a Haitian human rights group cited by AP reported at least 20 deaths or more.
Gran Grif is recognised as one of the most violent gangs in Haiti and has been linked to various criminal activities, including murder, rape, robberies, and kidnappings, according to a UN report. Both the founder and current leader of the gang are under US sanctions.
The recent gang rampage on Thursday occurred nearly a month after the Haitian authorities extended a state of emergency across the entire country.
Prime Minister Garry Conille has pledged to take decisive action against the gangs, with the UN stressing the necessity for a “robust use of force.”
