The government of Haiti had declared a 72-hour state of emergency on Sunday after armed gangs stormed two major prisons including the Port-au-Prince prison, leading to the killing of at least 12 persons and the escape of about 4,000 inmates. Haitian local media reported that police stations were attacked by the gangs, distracting authorities before the coordinated assault on the prisons. The government said the attacks left “several wounded” among prison staff and inmates. Among the prisoners who escaped were those connected with the 2021 killing of President Jovenel Moïse. Gang leaders have revealed that they intend to force the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who at the time of the attacks had traveled abroad.
Gang leader Jimmy Chérizier (nicknamed "Barbecue") who according to report is trying to force Henry from power declared a coordinated attack to remove him.
"All of us, the armed groups in the provincial towns and the armed groups in the capital, are united," said the former police officer, who is accused of being behind several massacres in Port-au-Prince.
The Reuters news agency reported that there were no signs of police officers at the prison and its main door was open.
“I’m the only one left in my cell,” one unidentified inmate told Reuters. “We were asleep when we heard the sound of bullets. The cell barriers are broken.”
In a statement, the Haitian government said police tried to repel the gang attack against that prison and at another facility called Croix des Bouquets. Esperance said it was not immediately clear how many inmates escaped from the second prison, which he said held 1,450 inmates.
In a statement, it thanked “the population for their calm, despite these very difficult times”.
Authorities warned people to be careful and “to continue to support the National Police who will do everything possible to track down fleeing prisoners and arrest those responsible for these acts”, the statement read.
Gangs control around 80% of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
The latest upsurge in violence began on Thursday when the prime minister traveled to Nairobi to discuss sending a Kenya-led multinational security force to Haiti.
