Haitian police confirm the deaths of 11 inmates during shootouts that followed a breakout from a prison in central Haiti, as authorities work to regain control.
Police have reported that prisoners escaped from a penitentiary located in the central Haitian town of Saint-Marc on Friday as officials attempt to curb rampant gang-related turmoil across the country.
Eleven suspected escaped inmates were reportedly killed in shootouts with police, as per Michel Ange Louis Jeune, the spokesperson for Haiti’s National Police during a news briefing held in Port-au-Prince.
Further details were not provided by him, including the number of escaped inmates.
According to regional news outlets, shots were heard in the vicinity of Saint Marc prison.
At first, the number of inmates that the prison held was not clear.
Haiti has experienced three prison breaks this year, with the latest occurrence being the third. In March, gangs executed coordinated attacks which caused their liberation of thousands of inmates from Haiti’s two largest prisons located in Port-au-Prince capital; these incidents contributed to Prime Minister Ariel Henry later stepping down from his position.
On Thursday, a police spokesperson brought forth 14 individuals – among them three officers- who were apprehended during an anti-crime mission. Additionally, one of these detainees had been previously accused of escaping earlier this year.
The Haitian penitentiary facilities experience a high population density, and individuals may endure prolonged periods of pre-trial detention due to the dysfunctional judicial framework in place.
Furthermore, prisons throughout Haiti are plagued by an enduring scarcity of both water and sustenance. This dire situation has tragically resulted in the deaths of incarcerated individuals who have succumbed to illnesses linked to inadequate nourishment.
Various weapons, including assault rifles that were confiscated during unrelated operations prior to the recent prison escape, were also displayed by the police.
