Haiti police confront public frustration after deadly gang attack kills 47

Haiti’s national police has faced growing scrutiny over its failure to stem violent attacks by armed criminal groups, which killed 47 people and kidnapped more than 50 last weekend. Police spokesperson Garry Desrosiers held a news conference on Thursday, taking questions from a handful of reporters. He offered few details about how the police plan to respond to the August 23 mass kidnapping, considered one of the largest such incidents in the country’s recent history. “We cannot talk about any plans,” Desrosiers said. The attack on the community of Kenscoff, located in the hills outside of the capital city of Port-au-Prince, has underscored the continued influence of powerful gangs in the country. Hundreds of people fled the attack. Desrosiers said that police are working to return them home. One gang leader has threatened to execute all the hostages if any gang members are killed as police work to gain control over Kenscoff. Asked whether police had gathered any intelligence before the attack, Desrosiers offered sparse comments, saying authorities have been working to find information. He added that the police believe one gang leader has threatened an assault on Tabarre, a neighbourhood in the capital that is home to the United States embassy. “I’m not in a position to give you detailed information,” Desrosiers said. The attack on Kenscoff comes as authorities in Haiti seek to reclaim control of the capital city.