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Haiti prison escape: Hundreds of inmates flee from Croix-des-Bouquets jail | Haiti prison escape: Hundreds of inmates flee from Croix-des-Bouquets jail |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Police quickly recaptured some inmates but hundreds of others are still unaccounted for | Police quickly recaptured some inmates but hundreds of others are still unaccounted for |
More than 400 prisoners are on the run in Haiti after escaping from a jail near the capital, Port-au-Prince. | More than 400 prisoners are on the run in Haiti after escaping from a jail near the capital, Port-au-Prince. |
Authorities said 25 people died following Thursday's mass escape from the Croix-des-Bouquets prison, including the prison director. | |
The victims included bystanders who were caught up in the violence, officials said. | The victims included bystanders who were caught up in the violence, officials said. |
One of those who fled, a powerful gang leader named as Arnel Joseph, was killed hours after escaping. | One of those who fled, a powerful gang leader named as Arnel Joseph, was killed hours after escaping. |
Joseph, still wearing prison ankle cuffs, was a passenger on a motorcycle that was flagged down at a checkpoint, police spokesman Gary Desrosiers said. | Joseph, still wearing prison ankle cuffs, was a passenger on a motorcycle that was flagged down at a checkpoint, police spokesman Gary Desrosiers said. |
Haiti country profile | Haiti country profile |
The motorcycle failed to stop and Joseph pulled a gun on officers who then shot and fatally wounded him, Mr Desrosiers said. | The motorcycle failed to stop and Joseph pulled a gun on officers who then shot and fatally wounded him, Mr Desrosiers said. |
Joseph was Haiti's most-wanted gang leader before his arrest in 2019. | Joseph was Haiti's most-wanted gang leader before his arrest in 2019. |
Details of the escape are not clear. Witnesses reported hearing bursts of gunfire at about midday on Thursday and prisoners were then seen running from the prison. | Details of the escape are not clear. Witnesses reported hearing bursts of gunfire at about midday on Thursday and prisoners were then seen running from the prison. |
Staff at a nearby clothing store told reporters that they had been forced to give items to the escaped prisoners. | Staff at a nearby clothing store told reporters that they had been forced to give items to the escaped prisoners. |
The Croix-des-Bouquets jail was inaugurated in 2012 and was designed for a maximum capacity of 872 inmates, AFP news agency reported. | The Croix-des-Bouquets jail was inaugurated in 2012 and was designed for a maximum capacity of 872 inmates, AFP news agency reported. |
Frantz Exantus, Haiti's Communications Secretary, told a news conference on Friday that the jail had held more than 1,500 prisoners before the breakout. | Frantz Exantus, Haiti's Communications Secretary, told a news conference on Friday that the jail had held more than 1,500 prisoners before the breakout. |
Croix-des-Bouquets was inaugurated in 2012 | Croix-des-Bouquets was inaugurated in 2012 |
"Twenty-five people died including six prisoners and Divisional Inspector Paul Hector Joseph who was in charge of the prison," he said. | "Twenty-five people died including six prisoners and Divisional Inspector Paul Hector Joseph who was in charge of the prison," he said. |
"Among those killed were some ordinary citizens who were killed by the prisoners during their escape," he added. | "Among those killed were some ordinary citizens who were killed by the prisoners during their escape," he added. |
Haiti, which is the poorest country in the Caribbean, has witnessed mass prison escapes before. | Haiti, which is the poorest country in the Caribbean, has witnessed mass prison escapes before. |
In 2019, all 78 inmates of Aquin prison in southern Haiti escaped while police were distracted by anti-government protests nearby. | In 2019, all 78 inmates of Aquin prison in southern Haiti escaped while police were distracted by anti-government protests nearby. |
Two years earlier, more than 170 inmates escaped from a prison in Arcahaie, north of Port-au-Prince. | Two years earlier, more than 170 inmates escaped from a prison in Arcahaie, north of Port-au-Prince. |
You might also be interested in: | You might also be interested in: |
Why are there so many protests in Haiti? | Why are there so many protests in Haiti? |