At least nine people were killed in an armed attack by the Kokorat San Ras gang, in the Kapenyen communal section, in L-Estère (Bas-Artibonite), at dawn on Saturday 19 July. Dozens of wounded and several missing are also recorded. Amid panic, many residents fled to Grande-Saline. The same criminal group had burned the Commissariat of Marchand Dessalines two days earlier.
Kokorat San Ras gang hit again. On Saturday, 19 July, at about 3 a.m., an armed attack plunged Kapenyen, a communal section of L'Estère, in horror. The attackers, heavily armed, opened fire on the population, sowing terror.
According to journalist Mario Charles, Radio Métropole's correspondent in Bas-Artibonite, the report is still provisional. Several dozen people were injured, some seriously, while others were reported missing.
The attack caused a massive exodus to Grande-Saline. Whole families, destitute, abandoned their homes in haste, seeking refuge away from violence.
In response, self-defence groups, supported by Haitian National Police (HNP), attempted to repel the attackers and regain control of the area. However, the situation remains tense and evolving.
This new offensive occurred just two days after the arson of the Merchant Dessalines Office, attributed to the same gang. These events rekindle concern about the growing insecurity in Artibonite, a region facing increasingly violent attacks.
W.A.
