Three officers from the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) on Thursday, August 7, sustained injuries after clashing with gangs in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
In a statement, MSS Spokesperson Jack Ombaka said armed Haitian gangs had planned to disrupt a Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) transition on Thursday.
Ombaka noted that MSS officers, in coordination with the Haitian National Police (PNH), thwarted the efforts by the gangs through well-coordinated patrols and a strong security presence.
“In anticipation of today’s scheduled CPT transition, armed gangs had plotted to disrupt national stability and render the country ungovernable. However, their efforts were decisively thwarted through coordinated, around-the-clock patrols and a strong security presence in Kenscoff, Furcy, Downtown Port-au-Prince, the vicinity of the National Palace, the Police Academy, the U.S. Embassy, as well as Petite Rivière, Liancourt, and Pont Sondé,” read the statement in part.
However, the MSS officers received a distress call from residents in the Kenscoff area reporting an imminent gang attack.
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While responding to the gang attack, two armored MSS personnel carriers (APCs) were trapped in trenches deliberately dug by the gangs.
Efforts to recover the two APCs were unsuccessful, and both of them were set on fire by the gangs.
“Despite coming under attack with Molotov cocktails, MSS officers courageously held their ground, inflicting significant damage on the assailants, many of whom fled with serious injuries.
“Unfortunately, efforts to recover the APCs were unsuccessful, and both vehicles were set ablaze during the confrontation,” Ombaka stated.
Three MSS officers sustained injuries and were taken to Aspen Level 2 Hospital, where they received treatment before being discharged.
“Three MSS officers sustained minor injuries; they were treated at Aspen Level 2 Hospital and subsequently discharged,” Ombaka added.
The incident came days after the US Embassy in Port-au-Prince issued a security alert after heavy gunfire erupted near its embassy.
