In Haiti, about 40 people killed in gang attack on church camp

A brutal gang attack on a church-turned-displaced persons camp in Kenscoff, near Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince, has left an estimated 40 people dead. The violence erupted overnight Sunday into Monday, plunging the community into a "night of terror."

Massillon Jean, the mayor of Kenscoff, confirmed the grim toll, stating, "We have counted about forty corpses. Searches are continuing. Some people are still missing." He described the attackers as gang members who "made an incursion into a camp of displaced people located in a church. They executed several people."

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We have counted about forty corpses. Searches are continuing. Some people are still missing.

The attack resulted in not only deaths but also dozens of injuries, with some individuals reportedly abducted by the armed assailants. The scale of the violence underscores the escalating insecurity and gang control plaguing Haiti, particularly in and around the capital.

Details about the specific gangs involved or their motives remain unclear. However, the incident highlights the vulnerability of displaced populations seeking refuge in religious institutions amidst the ongoing crisis. The Haitian prime minister's office has acknowledged the situation, having previously announced plans for elections later in the year.

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They made an incursion into a camp of displaced people located in a church. They executed several people. We count dead and dozens of injured. Some people have been kidnapped.