Gang attack on Haiti hillside community kills at least 30

At least 30 people were killed in a gang‑led assault on a hillside community that commands the main routes leading into Port‑au‑Prince, Haiti’s capital. The attack, which took place in the early hours of the day, involved heavily armed gunmen who set fire to homes and opened fire on residents as they attempted to flee. Witnesses described a coordinated operation that targeted the densely populated settlement, leaving dozens of bodies among the rubble and prompting a mass exodus of survivors toward nearby towns.

The incident underscores the escalating wave of gang violence that has plagued Haiti since the collapse of the national police force in 2021, prompting the government to declare a state of emergency in several districts. Haitian authorities have dispatched additional security forces to the area and opened an investigation, while international partners have called for urgent measures to restore order and protect civilians. The death toll, which may rise as rescue teams continue to search the debris, highlights the fragile security environment surrounding the capital and the pressing need for a coordinated response to curb further bloodshed.