Haiti: UN 'horrified' after at least 70 killed in gang massacre
SUMMARY
At least 70 people were killed in a horrific gang massacre in Pont-Sonde, Haiti, on Thursday, according to the United Nations. Armed members of the Gran Grif gang opened fire on residents with automatic weapons, leaving 16 others seriously injured. The violence escalated as gang members set fire to at least 45 homes and 34 vehicles, forcing many to flee the area. Among the deceased were women and children, including a young mother and her newborn baby. Bodies were found scattered on the streets, many shot in the head. The attack is one of the deadliest in the region in recent years, and its motive remains unclear. Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille condemned the massacre as an attack on the entire nation. In response, the government deployed an elite police unit to Pont-Sonde and sent medical supplies to the overwhelmed local hospital. Gang violence has surged in Haiti, particularly in areas controlled by gangs amid turf wars.
