Inmates flee amid gang attack on Haitian prison
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The total number of inmates on the run is still unclear as the capital of Haiti was also booming with sounds of gunfire amid chaos.
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Recaptured inmates are escorted by police back to the Croix-des-Bouquets Civil Prison after an attempted breakout, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, February 25, 2021. (AP)
Haitian media cited the country's prison authority revealing that a heavily armed gang has attacked a prison in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince freeing an unconfirmed number of inmates.
The Metronome broadcaster announced that the attack happened on Saturday night. Some of the detainees, who include high-profile criminals, have fled the prison, however, as gunfire was also perceived in several parts of Port-au-Prince, the total number of inmates on the run is still unknown.
Newspaper Gazette Haiti revealed that the number of inmates who fled was "considerable."
Haiti gang leader vows to oust prime minister
Haitian gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, also known as Barbecue, vowed to continue efforts to oust Prime Minister Ariel Henry. In a press conference on Friday, Cherizier declared that the battle against Henry would persist for as long as necessary, urging families to keep their children at home to "avoid collateral damages."
The capital city of Port-au-Prince has been under siege since Thursday, with coordinated violent attacks by gang members claiming the lives of at least four police officers and leaving dozens injured. The situation escalated on Friday with heavy gunfire, forcing around 200,000 innocent people to flee their homes amidst burning vehicles and disrupted civic systems.
Cherizier, the leader of the gang federation G9 and Family and Allies, claimed responsibility for the attacks that have plunged the city into chaos. The organized havoc is part of a broader effort by various gangs united under the banner of "Vivre Ensemble" (living together).
