Police are trying to reach a gang-controlled area in central Haiti where at least 16 people have been killed in a series of attacks over the weekend. While so far only 16 fatalities have been confirmed by police, a local journalist spoke of around 20 dead, while one human rights group warned that the number of fatalities could be as high as 70.
Local rights activists said the Gran Grif gang, one of Haiti's most feared criminal organisations, was behind the deadly attacks, which they said had caused 6,000 people to flee.
Gang violence has ravaged the Caribbean country for years and the multinational police force sent to contain it has struggled to enter areas where gangs hold sway. Residents of the rural area of Jean-Denis, near the town of Petite-Rivière de l'Artibonite, reported that a first attack took place in the early hours of Sunday. They told Haitian news site Le Nouvelliste that gang members had arrived from all directions, setting houses alight and shooting at those fleeing from the flames.
Survivors described finding bodies strewn on the road the next morning. A second deadly attack reportedly occurred on Monday. Currently, 16 bodies have been taken to nearby morgues, but with gang members still roaming the area, many locals are too afraid to collect the remains of those killed.
The ombudsman's office reported that at least another 19 people had sustained bullet wounds, emphasizing that the continued presence of gang members was hindering accurate victim assessments.
Romain Le Cour Grandmaison, director of the Haiti Observatory at the non-governmental organization Global Initiative, indicated that the attack seemed to be highly coordinated with roads blocked to prevent police intervention. As often in such large-scale attacks, it was preceded by warnings, leading to criticism over authorities' failure to act on these signals.
The attack is believed to have been led by a commander known as Ti Kenken, who has recently switched allegiances from a vigilante group to join the Gran Grif gang. This shift raises critical concerns about the potential for escalating violence, as such figures can easily transition between roles of vigilante, criminal, and police ally, heightening risks for civilians.
Historically, the agricultural region of Artibonite has witnessed heinous acts of gang violence, including a deadly rampage by Gran Grif in October 2024, which resulted in a death toll exceeding 100. These gangs have been designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations by the United States due to their substantial contribution to instability and violence in Haiti.
The current multinational police force (MSS) has proven inadequate against the heavily armed criminal groups, and a UN-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF) is set to replace it with officers expected to arrive soon.
Local rights activists said the Gran Grif gang, one of Haiti's most feared criminal organisations, was behind the deadly attacks, which they said had caused 6,000 people to flee.
Gang violence has ravaged the Caribbean country for years and the multinational police force sent to contain it has struggled to enter areas where gangs hold sway. Residents of the rural area of Jean-Denis, near the town of Petite-Rivière de l'Artibonite, reported that a first attack took place in the early hours of Sunday. They told Haitian news site Le Nouvelliste that gang members had arrived from all directions, setting houses alight and shooting at those fleeing from the flames.
Survivors described finding bodies strewn on the road the next morning. A second deadly attack reportedly occurred on Monday. Currently, 16 bodies have been taken to nearby morgues, but with gang members still roaming the area, many locals are too afraid to collect the remains of those killed.
The ombudsman's office reported that at least another 19 people had sustained bullet wounds, emphasizing that the continued presence of gang members was hindering accurate victim assessments.
Romain Le Cour Grandmaison, director of the Haiti Observatory at the non-governmental organization Global Initiative, indicated that the attack seemed to be highly coordinated with roads blocked to prevent police intervention. As often in such large-scale attacks, it was preceded by warnings, leading to criticism over authorities' failure to act on these signals.
The attack is believed to have been led by a commander known as Ti Kenken, who has recently switched allegiances from a vigilante group to join the Gran Grif gang. This shift raises critical concerns about the potential for escalating violence, as such figures can easily transition between roles of vigilante, criminal, and police ally, heightening risks for civilians.
Historically, the agricultural region of Artibonite has witnessed heinous acts of gang violence, including a deadly rampage by Gran Grif in October 2024, which resulted in a death toll exceeding 100. These gangs have been designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations by the United States due to their substantial contribution to instability and violence in Haiti.
The current multinational police force (MSS) has proven inadequate against the heavily armed criminal groups, and a UN-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF) is set to replace it with officers expected to arrive soon.
