Three shot dead at hospital reopening in Haiti
A gang alliance in Haiti claimed responsibility on Wednesday for the attack at the country's largest hospital in Port-au-Prince in which two journalists and a policeman were shot dead.
The attack, which also left several others wounded, took place during a press conference on Tuesday night to announce the reopening of the General Hospital where services had been disrupted for several months due to gang violence.
Johnson “Izo” André, considered Haiti’s most powerful gang leader and part of the Viv Ansanm group of gangs that has taken control of large parts of the capital, posted a video on social media claiming responsibility for the attack.
The video said the gang coalition had not authorised the hospital’s reopening.
The National Palace security unit intervened to evacuate the injured who were taken to other medical centres..
Following the shootings, Haiti’s interim president, Leslie Voltaire, said in an address to the nation: “I send my sympathies to the people who were victims, the national police and the journalists.
"What happened today at the General Hospital, in the middle of the Christmas celebrations, is unacceptable. This act will not go unpunished."
The government said later it would respond firmly to the attack.
"This heinous act, which targets an institution dedicated to health and life, constitutes an unacceptable attack on the very foundations of our society," it said in a statement.
Robest Dimanche, a spokesman for the Online Media Collective, identified the victims as Markenzy Nathoux and Jimmy Jean.
Read more on RFI English
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