The death toll from last week's attack in the Haitian town of Pont-Sondé has risen to at least 115 and looks set to rise further.
Haiti, 115 victims in bloody gang massacre
This massacre, one of the most serious in the recent history of the country, was made public by the Haitian authorities and reported by the local media.
On the night between October 3rd and 4th, a gang Army opened fire with automatic rifles against the population of Pont-Sondé, a town located about 100 kilometers northwest of the capital, Port-au-Prince. In addition to the victims, the attack caused the destruction of dozens of homes and vehicles, leaving a trail of devastation. Among the dead are also women and children, affected by the wave of violence.
Haiti, 115 dead in brutal massacre caused by criminal gangs
According to a local NGO that deals with the defense of human rights, the criminal group responsible, known as “Gran Grif”, reacted brutally after a citizens' self-defense committee tried to stop its activities in the area. In particular, the self-defense group was trying to prevent the gang from continuing to profit from an illegal road toll that the gang had recently established nearby.
The security situation in Haiti is increasingly critical, with armed gangs controlling large areas of the country, hindering the efforts of local authorities and international organizations to restore order.