During the opening of the Haitian hospital, armed men opened fire on journalists Crime News

Haitian authorities are struggling to address the growth of powerful armed gangs, and accountability for the violence is rare.

In Haiti, gunmen opened fire on a group of journalists gathered to cover the reopening of the capital’s largest public hospital.

Authorities did not provide details of those killed in Tuesday’s attack, but Reuters news agency, citing a journalist who spoke on condition of anonymity, said two journalists and a police officer were killed.

“We express our condolences to the families of all the victims, especially the PNH (Haiti national police) and all journalist associations,” Haiti’s transitional presidential council wrote on social media.

“We assure them that this action will not be without consequences.”

The attack is the latest in Haiti, where ongoing political and economic instability has fueled violence. armed groups became stronger after the assassination of the former president Jovenel Moise in 2021.

The island nation’s law enforcement agencies have battled gangs that control about 80 percent of the capital, Port-au-Prince, where widespread violence has hit civilians hard. vital services.

One facility forced to close in March was the country’s largest public hospital, the General Hospital. Journalists had gathered to cover the reopening of the facility when the gunmen opened fire around 11:00 a.m. (16:00 GMT) on Tuesday, Reuters reported.

Government officials gathered in July to reopen the hospital in downtown Port-au-Prince, but that event also came under fire, forcing former prime minister Garry Conille to flee the scene.

An unverified video released online on Tuesday showed three journalists lying wounded on the floor of the building. In the latest report of the United Nations, it was stated that only 24 percent healthcare institutions It operates in Port-au-Prince.

Johnson “Izo” Andre, a powerful gang leader in the coalition known as Viv Ansanm, released a video on social media Tuesday claiming responsibility for the attack.