Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry narrowly escaped an attempt on his life over the weekend. Henry was attending an event at a church in the northern city of Gonaives that commemorated the nation's independence from France.
Henry's office confirmed on Monday that a group of "bandits and terrorists" had engaged the prime minister's security forces in a gunfight while the ceremony marking the 218th anniversary of Haiti's independence was taking place. Henry was unable to give his address as scheduled as the ceremony was abruptly cut short.
Local media reports revealed that at least one person was killed and two others were seriously injured during the clash. Gonaves' streets and church, Saint-Charles-de-Boromé, were mainly deserted following the incident.
Witnesses said Henry was forced to duck amid a hail of gunfire as he was escorted out of the church by his bodyguards. Henry's office confirmed that the group had made an attempt on the prime minister's life when they surrounded the church and attacked unprovoked. Video of the incident showed how Henry was quickly escorted as armed men began shooting at the church.
The Haitian National Police confirmed Monday that the area had already been secured. Officials were unable to confirm the identities of those who were killed and injured following the incident.
Police said a local gang lord had issued threats against Henry in local media before the attack. Officials said they had already issued warrants for several people suspected of being involved in the incident.
Gang violence throughout the country has escalated following the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise back in July. Gangs have also recently increased their holds on large parts of the country following the president's death. Henry has been working to create a collation to help get the country under control.
The assassination attempt has dealt a further blow to Henry's shaky interim government, still grappling with rising poverty and gang violence. Henry was inaugurated in as prime minister only two weeks after Moise was killed by suspected mercenaries, and his administration is facing rising challenges to its legitimacy. Moise's successor has yet to be chosen, and the government has yet to establish a date for elections.
Henry said in a post on social media following the attack that those that tried to kill him were all "enemies of the Haitian people." He added that they are terrorists using violence to take away the people's freedoms. Henry previously committed to crack down on gang violence amid the increase in shootings and kidnappings throughout the country.
