Haitian police and members of the Kenya-led United Nations-backed security mission were Friday continuing their hunt for gang members who shot dead at least 20 persons and injured several others early Thursday morning, Haiti’s Prime Minister Garry Conille said.
“The Haitian National Police (PNH) is stepping up its efforts. Agents from the Temporary Anti-Gang Unit (UTAG) have been deployed as reinforcements to support teams already on the ground, thus stepping up operations to track down gangs active in the Artibonite,” he said on ‘X’, formerly Twitter.
Reports say 50 others were injured by the “Gran Grif” gang that totals about 100 members. The gang has been responsible for killings, kidnappings and robberies and rape, and was even accused of forcing the closure of a hospital that serves just under 1 million persons.
He condemned in the strongest terms the violent incursion perpetrated this Thursday, October 3, 2024, at 3:00 am, by members of the armed gang “Gran Grif” of Savien, in the locality of Pont Sondé, located between the communes of Saint-Marc and Estère, in the department of Artibonite.
Mr Conille said specialized Haitian National Police units, supported by forces from the Multinational Security Mission (MSS), left Port-au-Prince on the night of October 3 to 4 to travel to the Artibonite department via the Canaan road. Other specialized units are preparing to be deployed from Port-au-Prince, transported by Haitian government helicopter to further strengthen the ongoing operation.
According to the Haitian Prime Minister, faced with this dramatic situation, the government immediately took all necessary measures to strengthen the capacities of the Saint-Nicolas public hospital in Saint-Marc, where a large number of injured people are currently being treated. He said additional logistical and medical resources are being mobilized to ensure rapid and optimal care for victims.
