Members of the population cry out in despair in the face of armed gangs. Illustrative photo: AFP
The recent attack by armed gangs in the commune of Gressier caused the death of at least 25 people between Sunday, June 30 and Monday, July 1, according to Jean Vladimir Bertrand, interim agent of the commune, on the airwaves of Magik 9 this Tuesday.
During this incursion, armed gangs also carried out kidnappings, including that of Reverend Father Emmanuel Saintéliat, priest of the Saint-Jean Baptiste Parish of Gressier.
Jean Vladimir Bertrand detailed that 20 people were killed on Sunday, and 5 others lost their lives on Monday afternoon, as the police tried to regain control of the local police station.
The attackers also set fire to the bodies of some victims, including that of a cousin of the mayor. “The toll could rise, because bodies were burned inside some houses,” he added.
In addition to the human losses, significant material damage was noted in the commune, stressed Jean Vladimir Bertrand.
Let us recall that the police forces regained control of the Gressier police station on Monday, July 1, 2024, after it was attacked and occupied on Sunday, June 30 by an armed group. This operation was carried out during the day of Monday, July 1 by a regional task force, composed of police officers from Nippes, the South-East and the South, set up by the Director General of the PNH, Rameau Normil.
However, it is important to note that the Haitian National Police (PNH) has not yet made a public statement on the number of deaths reported by the mayor of the commune of Gressier.
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