PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Hundreds of people attended a funeral on Sunday for four of the 47 individuals killed in a gang attack on August 23 in Kenscoff, a community near Haiti's capital. Mourners gathered at a church, expressing their grief as coffins were brought in. Pastor Jean Robert Dorlus thanked attendees for their solidarity with the families affected by the violence.
The attack involved armed men who killed at least 47 people and kidnapped over 50 others during the night, marking one of the largest mass kidnappings in recent years. Survivors have organized protests, accusing police of failing to prevent the incident, which has raised concerns about security in the country.
Inside the church, attendees swayed to gospel music, with some visibly distressed. Yvon Marleus, a local resident, expressed his sorrow over the loss of a cousin in the attack, criticizing the police for their inaction.
Haiti's National Police announced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack, including potential complicity or negligence. Outside the church, civilians armed with automatic weapons stood guard alongside police officers, prepared for any further gang violence.
Jean Calixte Juste, another resident, recounted his harrowing experience during the attack, stating, "I almost died. I almost fell into a ravine running. This is the worst and most terrible night I've ever experienced." He attended the funeral to honor the deceased, despite not knowing them personally.
The timing of funerals for the remaining victims has not been disclosed. On the same day, Pope Leo XIV condemned the massacre, expressing his condolences to the victims' families and calling for the release of all hostages.
Marta Hurtado, a spokesperson for the U.N. Human Rights Office, reported that approximately 150 heavily armed gang members participated in the attack, killing 13 individuals who attempted to flee and executing 22 others in the church courtyard.
The gang later released six children and seven women following intervention by community leaders and UNICEF, but many remain abducted. Gang violence has displaced nearly 1.5 million people in Haiti, with over 3,050 reported killings from January to June, according to U.N. statistics.
Juste expressed his fear for the future, stating, "I'm ready to leave. Because after this, I don't think we're going to survive another big attack."