About 71 kilometers (44 miles) northwest of the capital Port-au-Prince, in the middle Artibonite region, the Gran Grif gang rampaged through Pont-Sondé, injuring another 50 people.
Video video shows groups of people fleeing the violence on motorbikes and on foot. The incident was called “a massacre” by a government prosecutor, according to the Associated Press.
In an effort to retake power, armed gangs have taken over a significant portion of Haiti. In June, a UN-backed police mission headed by Kenyan officers started.
Reuters Police officers from Kenya patrol Haiti Reuters
The multi-national police taskforce is expected to include up to 1,000 Kenyan police officers.
The precise death toll from the attack is unknown; local media stated that more than 50 people had died, although a human rights organization in Haiti estimated that at least 20 people had died, according to the Associated Press.
Gran Grif is purportedly one of the bloodiest gangs in Haiti. Its members were charged of storming a police station close to Port-Sondé in January 2023 and killing six cops. Additionally, it’s held accountable for forcing the shutdown of a hospital that cares for over 700,000 people.
According to a UN report quoted by the news, the gang, which consists of over 100 members, has been charged with crimes including murder, rape, robbery, and kidnappings. US sanctions apply to both its founder and current leader.
