Haiti

Hundreds attend funeral for four victims of Haiti gang attack that killed 47

A church in Kenscoff near Port-au-Prince held a funeral Sunday for four of 47 people killed in an August 23 armed attack that also resulted in over 50 kidnappings.

6:57 AM

Hundreds attend funeral for four victims of Haiti gang attack that killed 47

Hundreds of people gathered at a church in Kenscoff, a farming community near Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince, on Sunday for the funeral of four victims killed in a gang attack that claimed at least 47 lives.

Mourners filled the church as coffins arrived, with relatives wiping away tears and raising their hands in grief. Pastor Jean Robert Dorlus addressed those present, saying, "We thank everyone who came in solidarity with the families that died and those who lost their loved ones. God will open a space to receive them."

The attack occurred on August 23 when armed men descended on Kenscoff in the middle of the night. In addition to the 47 people killed, more than 50 others were kidnapped during the assault. Officials characterized the incident as one of the biggest mass kidnappings in Haiti in recent years.

The violence has added to the country's long-standing struggle with gang-related crime and insecurity. Survivors of the attack have begun organizing in response to the incident.