Haiti prison break: Armed gangs unleash chaos in mirebalais
Armed gangsters attacked the prison in Mirebalais, Haiti, freeing about 500 prisoners. Earlier, they set a police station on fire. The police have regained control of the city, but the situation remains tense.
According to witness accounts cited by the "BBC," armed attackers were shooting at pedestrians and setting buildings and cars on fire. A spokesman for the Haitian police stated that additional forces have been sent to the city to manage the situation. The police warn that many escaped prisoners are still on the streets.
The attack is attributed to members of two gangs: 400 Mawozo and the Taliban group, which are part of the Viv Ansam coalition. This coalition controls the northern part of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince. Mirebalais, where the attack occurred, is located at a strategic crossroads leading from Port-au-Prince to the north and toward the Dominican Republic.
The attack in Mirebalais happened a few days after the International Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti confirmed the death of Kenyan police officer Benedict Kabiru, who gangsters shot. He is the second Kenyan to die while serving with the MSS.
Gangs seize control of Haiti's capital
According to UN data, last year, more than 5,600 people died due to gang violence in Haiti, over 2,200 were injured, and nearly 1,500 were kidnapped. International forces are trying to support Haitian police in reclaiming areas controlled by gangs but so far without significant success. Criminal groups have taken over almost the entire capital of Haiti, and their influence is beginning to reach other cities.
The situation in Haiti remains tense, and the international community is closely monitoring the developments, striving to find effective solutions to this crisis.
