The government of Haiti declared a 72-hour state of emergency on Sunday after armed gangs stormed a major Port-au-Prince prison. At least 12 people were killed and about 3,700 inmates escaped in the jailbreak.
Gang leaders say they want to force the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who had travelled abroad.
The groups aiming to oust him control around 80% of Port-au-Prince.
Gang violence has plagued Haiti for years.
A government statement said two prisons – one in the capital and the other in nearby Croix des Bouquets – were stormed over the weekend.
It said the acts of “disobedience” were a threat to national security and said it was instituting an immediate night-time curfew in response, which started at 20:00 local time (01:00 GMT on Monday).
Haitian media reported that other police stations were attacked, distracting authorities before the coordinated assault on the jails. Among those detained in Port-au-Prince were gang members charged in connection with the 2021 killing of President Jovenel Moïse.
Credit: bbc.com
