Gangs Unleash New Attacks on Upscale Areas in Haiti's Capital
Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. Gangs attacked two upscale neighborhoods in Haiti’s capital early Monday in a rampage that left at least a dozen people dead in surrounding areas.
Gunmen looted homes in the communities of Laboule and Thomassin before sunrise, forcing residents to flee as some called radio stations pleading for police. The neighborhoods had remained largely peaceful despite a surge in violent gang attacks across Port-au-Prince that began on Feb. 29.
An Associated Press photographer saw the bodies of at least 12 men strewn on the streets of Pétionville, located just below the mountainous communities of Laboule and Thomassin.
Crowds began gathering around the victims. One was lying face up on the street surrounded by a scattered deck of cards and another was found face down inside a pick-up truck known as a “tap-tap” that operates as a taxi. A woman at one of the scenes collapsed and had to be held by others after learning that a relative of hers was killed.
The most recent attacks raised concerns that gang violence would not cease despite Prime Minister Ariel Henry announcing nearly a week ago that he would resign once a transitional presidential council is created, a move that gangs had been demanding.
Also on Monday, Haiti’s power company announced that four substations in the capital and elsewhere “were destroyed and rendered completely dysfunctional.” As a result, swaths of Port-au-Prince were without power, including the Cite Soleil slum, the Croix-des-Bouquets community and a hospital.
The company said criminals also seized important documents, cables, inverters, batteries and other items.
As gang violence continues unabated, Caribbean leaders have been helping with the creation of a transitional council. It was originally supposed to have seven members with voting powers. But one political party in Haiti rejected the seat they were offered, and another is still squabbling over who should be nominated.
Meanwhile, the deployment of a UN-backed Kenyan police force to fight gangs in Haiti has been delayed, with the East African country saying it would wait until the transitional council is established.
Tags: Keywords:The Latest
Prabowo Replaces National Nutrition Agency Chief in Surprise Leadership Shake-Up
President Prabowo replaced the leadership of Indonesia’s National Nutrition Agency in a surprise shake-up of a key flagship program.Indonesia’s Trade Surplus Falls to Six-Year Low as Oil Imports Surge
A sharp increase in crude oil and fuel imports pushed Indonesia’s April trade surplus to its lowest level in six years.Rupiah Slides to Rp 17,839 Amid Geopolitical Uncertainty
Rupiah weakened to Rp 17,839 per US dollar as Middle East tensions and US trade policy uncertainty rattled markets.Palm Oil Exports Soar Double-Digits as New Trade System Begins
Palm oil producers are keeping their fingers crossed that the new one-gate trade regime will not scare away foreign buyers.Indonesia’s Creative Economy Attracts Rp 61.3 Trillion in Q1 Investment
The creative economy sector attracted Rp 61.3 trillion in Q1 investment, with foreign investors accounting for 71% of the total.Most Popular
