Hundreds of inmates flee Haiti prison after armed gangs invasion
A Saturday night prison invasion in Haiti by armed gangs has led to the escape of hundreds of inmates and the killing of three people, VOA has reported.
Three bodies with gunshot wounds were found Sunday morning at the now widely open entrance of the prison, which had no security guards around.
A human rights attorney, Arnel Remy, who is also the head of a non-profit that works inside the prisons, on his X handle, revealed that less than 100 of the 4,000 inmates still remained behind bars after the attack.
Among those who refused to escape are 18 former Colombian soldiers who were accused of working as mercenaries to assassinate then President, Jovenel Moïse, in July 2021.
Colombians who shared the videos on Saturday night during the chaos could be seen urgently pleading for their lives.
One of the men, Francisco Uribe, in a 30-seconds video, could be seen saying, “Please, please help us,” adding that, “They are massacring people indiscriminately inside the cells.”
Also, a union representing the police, pleaded for help on social media saying, “Let’s mobilise the army and the police to prevent the bandits from breaking into the prison.”
The incident happened as Prime Minister Ariel Henry travelled abroad to solicit support for a United Nations-backed security force to stabilise the country.
On Thursday, four police officers were killed in the country’s capital after gunmen opened fire on targets including Haiti’s international airport.
The criminals also reportedly attacked two police stations as civilians scampered for safety while businesses and schools were closed down in fear.
A former police officer in the country, Jimmy Chérizier, who now runs a gang federation, has claimed responsibility for the attacks. He revealed that the intention is to capture the country’s police chief and government ministers as well as prevent the president’s return.
However, in a bid to curtail the attacks, the President on Friday, signed reciprocal agreements with Kenyan President William Ruto, to deploy Kenyan police to Haiti.
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