Home US Chaos as hundreds of inmates escape from Haiti prison: armed gangs storm Port-au-Prince jail, killing three people, as guards flee savage violence

Chaos as hundreds of inmates escape from Haiti prison: armed gangs storm Port-au-Prince jail, killing three people, as guards flee savage violence

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A protester holds the Haitian flag during protests against the country's prime minister.
  • More than 300,000 people have been forced to flee the largely gang-controlled Haitian capital.

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Hundreds of inmates escaped from a prison in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, as armed gangs stormed the city.

An outbreak of violence since Thursday has focused on the city’s international airport, police stations and the National Penitentiary prison.

It comes as gang leader Jimmy Cherizier vowed to overthrow the country’s interim prime minister, Ariel Henry.

On Friday he called on the Haitian military and national police to “take responsibility” and arrest Henry, who has served as prime minister since the assassination of Haiti’s last president, Jovenel Moise, in 2021.

Cherizier, known as Barbecue, is a former police officer who now leads a gang alliance and has faced sanctions from the United Nations and the US Treasury Department.

A protester holds the Haitian flag during protests against the country's prime minister.

A protester holds the Haitian flag during protests against the country’s prime minister.

Gang violence since Thursday in Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, has left at least five dead

Gang violence since Thursday in Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, has left at least five dead

Gang violence since Thursday in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, has left at least five dead

Pictured: A burned car outside the city's National Penitentiary prison, where hundreds of inmates reportedly escaped.

Pictured: A burned car outside the city's National Penitentiary prison, where hundreds of inmates reportedly escaped.

Pictured: A burned car outside the city’s National Penitentiary prison, where hundreds of inmates reportedly escaped.

Workers put out a fire at the office of Haiti's power company after it was attacked by protesters.

Workers put out a fire at the office of Haiti's power company after it was attacked by protesters.

Workers put out a fire at the office of Haiti’s power company after it was attacked by protesters.

An inmate in a prison cell where criminals escaped

An inmate in a prison cell where criminals escaped

An inmate in a prison cell where criminals escaped

Inmates wave their hands from the windows of the prison where armed gangs stormed overnight

Inmates wave their hands from the windows of the prison where armed gangs stormed overnight

Inmates wave their hands from the windows of the prison where armed gangs stormed overnight

People gather in front of the National Penitentiary prison in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

People gather in front of the National Penitentiary prison in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

People gather in front of the National Penitentiary prison in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Protests have broken out against acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who took office in 2021 following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise.

Protests have broken out against acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who took office in 2021 following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise.

Protests have broken out against acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who took office in 2021 following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise.

Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been forced to flee riot-hit and gang-controlled metropolitan areas.

Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been forced to flee riot-hit and gang-controlled metropolitan areas.

Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been forced to flee riot-hit and gang-controlled metropolitan areas.

In the image: a police officer passes by while two people carry their belongings.

In the image: a police officer passes by while two people carry their belongings.

In the image: a police officer passes by while two people carry their belongings.

Pictured: A police officer stands guard during the ongoing civil unrest.

Pictured: A police officer stands guard during the ongoing civil unrest.

Pictured: A police officer stands guard during the ongoing civil unrest.

One of the largest police unions in the country has asked all officers to help regain control of the prison.

One of the largest police unions in the country has asked all officers to help regain control of the prison.

One of the largest police unions in the country has asked all officers to help regain control of the prison.

Henry had agreed to hold elections no later than the end of August 2025, cnn reported.

More than 300,000 people have been forced to flee their homes due to indiscriminate murders and rapes in Port-au-Prince, which is largely controlled by gangs.

One of the country’s police unions, the Haitian National Police Union, posted on X that if efforts to contain the prisoner escape failed, then “we are lost.”

He added that there would be 3,000 more criminals on the loose and urged all officers to help regain control of the prison.

The UK Foreign Affairs and Development Office continues to advise against all travel to Haiti, which has been plagued by unrest in recent years.

January was described by the UN as the most violent month in recent years, with around 1,100 people murdered.

On Thursday, flights were suspended at the capital’s Toussaint Louverture international airport amid gunfire, while several fire stations across the city have since been set on fire.

Other images showed workers putting out flames in the offices of Haiti’s electricity company after being attacked by protesters.

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