Haiti: Gang members kill dozens near Port-au-Prince

At least 40 people were killed on Sunday night when gang members stormed a displaced persons camp located inside a church outside Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital city, according to the local mayor and the United Nations. The brutal attack, which began around 10:30 p.m., resulted in dozens of fatalities and injuries, with some individuals abducted by the assailants.

Mayor Massillon Jean of Kenscoff, the town near the attack site, confirmed the grim toll, stating that around 40 bodies had been counted and searches for the missing continued. The United Nations warned that casualty figures might still shift. The attack occurred in Kenscoff, a strategic location overlooking key routes into Port-au-Prince, a city plagued by gang violence for months.

Early last year, gang-related violence claimed over 260 lives and destroyed or set ablaze 200 homes, displacing 3,000 residents. Since then, at least 10 additional attacks have transpired. The UN has condemned the heinous assault, emphasizing that security forces are on heightened alert and reinforcements are being deployed. Residents have called for the resignation of the local police chief, alleging that authorities failed to shield the church shelter from the attack.

The office of Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé also condemned the violence, vowing that Haiti will not cede to the criminal groups. Despite the tragic incident, Haiti's authorities remain steadfast, asserting that the republic will prevail over the bandits.