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Haiti gang raid kills at least 47, residents demand police chief resign

The UN said estimates could still change, as Kenscoff has faced a dozen armed-gang attacks since last year and thousands have fled.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Emerging Markets

A gang raid on a hillside neighborhood overlooking Port-au-Prince, Haiti, left at least 47 people dead and 22 injured, according to the UN’s integrated office in Haiti, with the death toll still subject to change. The attack took place overnight in Kenscoff, where armed gangs have repeatedly struck since last year.

Reuters reported that the raid began around 10:30pm local time, and Haiti’s rights group RNDDH estimated a lower and upper range for casualties at 30 to 40 killed and 15 to 20 wounded, while noting it was difficult to confirm a complete tally.

Gangs operating under a broad alliance have long consolidated influence around Haiti’s capital and expanded into nearby areas, despite attempts by foreign partners to strengthen Haiti’s outmatched police forces. The violence has also forced thousands of residents to flee their homes.

As Haiti’s government condemned what it called a heinous attack and promised more security, residents demanded the local police chief step down, saying officers failed to protect people killed just minutes from the police station. The Kenscoff area has reportedly suffered a dozen attacks by armed gangs since last year.

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