After the assassination of the Haitian President Jovenel Moïse († 53), four suspects were killed and two others were arrested. Police chief Léon Charles announced on Wednesday evening (local time) on television.
In addition, three police officers have been arrested in the meantime, but they have now been released. At first there were no further details about the manhunt for the assassins.
Wife survived the attack
On Wednesday night (local time), unknown persons broke into the residence of 53-year-old Moïse in a suburb of the capital Port-au-Prince and shot him. His wife Martine was injured.
She survived and was taken to the US city of Miami some 1,000 kilometers away for treatment. Haiti’s ambassador to the United States, Bocchit Edmond, confirms this to the international media.
The assassins pretended to be Americans
According to initial findings, the attackers were foreigners who posed as members of the US anti-drug agency DEA.
According to the Haitian Embassy in Washington, it was a coordinated attack by a well-trained and heavily armed group. Interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph said in an address to the nation that the perpetrators spoke English and Spanish.
“Hateful, inhuman and barbaric”
Ex-Prime Minister Claude Joseph condemned the attack as “hateful, inhuman and barbaric” and called on the population to calm down. The security forces have the situation under control.
“All measures are being taken to ensure the continued existence of the state and to protect the nation,” the message said. “Democracy and the republic will prevail.” Joseph was head of government until Tuesday before being replaced by Ariel Henry. (SDA / euc)