In Haiti’s main prison, chaos erupted as armed gangs stormed the facility, leading to a mass jailbreak that saw hundreds of inmates fleeing into the night.
This violent outburst adds to the escalating turmoil engulfing the capital city.
“The jailbreak on Saturday night marked a new low in Haiti’s downward spiral of violence,” with coordinated attacks by gangs escalating as Prime Minister Ariel Henry sought international support for security efforts.
Former elite police officer Jimmy Chérizier, also known as Barbecue, claimed responsibility for the surge in violence, aiming to capture top officials and block Henry’s return.
The aftermath revealed a scene of devastation: bodies with gunshot wounds lay outside the National Penitentiary, which stood wide open with no guards present.
Streets were littered with belongings and the bloodied remains of victims, a grim testament to the brutality unleashed.
Efforts to restore order are underway, with the government vowing to apprehend the perpetrators and escapees.
However, the scale of the breakout remains uncertain, with reports suggesting that the vast majority of inmates fled.
The prison, designed for 700 inmates, held nearly 4,000, highlighting longstanding issues of overcrowding and security vulnerabilities.
Among the detainees were 18 former Colombian soldiers implicated in President Moïse’s assassination, who pleaded for help as violence erupted around them.
The chaos extended beyond the prison walls, with reports of gunfire in multiple neighborhoods and additional jailbreak attempts elsewhere in Port-au-Prince.
Gangs also targeted the nation’s soccer stadium and disrupted internet services, further destabilizing the already fragile situation.
Haiti’s law enforcement, understaffed and outgunned, struggles to contain the growing threat posed by organized crime.
With elections repeatedly delayed and institutional weaknesses exposed, the country faces an uncertain future amidst escalating violence and unrest.