At least 47 people were killed, more than 50 were kidnapped and another 22 were injured in a gang raid in Kenscoff, near Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince, on the evening of August 23, the United Nations said.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack on Tuesday, saying it underscored Haiti’s alarming security situation and the urgent need to intensify Haitian and international efforts against gangs. The UN said the casualty estimates could change.
Homes and a church were targeted
Kenscoff Mayor Jean Massillon said armed men set homes on fire, killed residents and targeted a church and private residences, including the home of public health expert Jean William Pape. Massillon blamed members of Viv Ansanm, which the United States designated a foreign terrorist organisation last year.
Residents also accused local police of failing to protect people killed a short distance from the police station and demanded that the police chief resign. The government described the assault as a heinous attack and said it would reinforce security.
Related coverage: At least 47 killed and more than 50 kidnapped near Haiti capital.
Hostages remain at the centre of the crisis
A gang member who identified himself as Izo 2 threatened Haitian National Police director Vladimir Paraison in a video posted on social media, saying hostages would be killed if gang members were harmed.
Kenscoff resident Marc Paul said his brother, stepmother, stepfather and two cousins were kidnapped. He also said his 16-year-old niece was captured and raped before escaping and reuniting with him.
Kenscoff has faced repeated attacks
The hillside community overlooks routes into Port-au-Prince and has suffered a dozen attacks by armed gangs since last year, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes.
The raid comes as Haiti hopes to hold its first general election in more than a decade. Gangs allied under a broad coalition have expanded their influence from the capital into nearby areas despite efforts by foreign countries to support Haiti’s outgunned police.
What happens next
The prime minister’s office said it would take action, promising that Kenscoff would not be abandoned and that government authority would be restored without delay.
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