Gangs Attack Haiti’s Biggest Prison, Allowing Prisoners to Escape
In a brazen and violent attack, gangs targeted Haiti’s largest prison on Saturday night, allowing prisoners to escape and further escalating the chaos and disorder in the country’s capital, Port-au-Prince. The incident, which has been described as a clear display of force by the gangs, is the latest in a series of violent events that have plagued Haiti for more than two years.
According to local police unions and a lawyer representing some of the incarcerated individuals, the attack on the national penitentiary in Port-au-Prince resulted in the escape of numerous inmates. The prison, designed to hold only 800 individuals, was reportedly nearly emptied of its nearly 4,000 prisoners, with only a few remaining due to age or disability, as well as those accused in the assassination of Haiti’s president, Jovenel Moïse.
Videos circulating on social media showed parts of the prison empty of prisoners, indicating the scale of the escape. The attack also targeted a second prison in Port-au-Prince, where some prisoners managed to flee as well.
The situation has raised concerns among police unions, with calls for all officers to report to the national penitentiary to prevent further chaos and violence. The lack of security measures and the apparent lack of response from authorities have been criticized, as the gangs seem to be gaining more power and control in the absence of a functioning government.
The violence in Haiti has reached alarming levels since the assassination of President Moïse, with widespread gang violence and a collapse of security across the country. The absence of elected officials and the increasing influence of armed gangs have left thousands of people in fear for their lives.
As the situation in Haiti continues to deteriorate, the international community is closely monitoring the developments and assessing the best course of action to restore order and stability in the country. The recent prison attack is just one example of the challenges facing Haiti and the urgent need for intervention to prevent further violence and bloodshed.
