Haitian police destroy helicopter, kill 7 in gang shootout

Police successful Haiti person destroyed a chopper aft it made a forced landing successful gang-controlled territory

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Police successful Haiti clashed with gangs Thursday nighttime into Friday successful an cognition that killed 7 pack members and led constabulary to destruct a chopper aft a forced landing, authorities said.

In an cognition successful the Croix des Bouquets country connected the outskirts of superior Port-au-Prince, a chopper had a “suspected malfunction” and had to marque an exigency landing, according to a connection from Haitian National Police (PNH) published connected Facebook. The officers are harmless but torched the chopper truthful gangs could not retrieve it for their use, the constabulary said.

Earlier Friday, societal media videos showed pack members celebrating adjacent to the wreckage of the helicopter.

Seven pack members were killed, according to PNH Spokesman Garry Desrosiers.

Police besides recovered a Barrett semi-automatic anti-materiel firearm that was utilized successful the sprout out, which is simply a “high capacity” limb that is "often utilized to terrorize the civilian population,” constabulary said.

The Croix des Bouquets country is controlled by the Viv Ansanm, which means “Living Together,” a almighty pack conjugation that has been designated by the United States arsenic a overseas violent organization.

Criminal groups person expanded their power successful Haiti successful caller years and now power 90% of the capital. Gang unit has besides displaced a grounds 1.4 cardinal people, according to the U.N. International Organization for Migration.

The U.N. has backed a ngo led by Kenyan constabulary to combat gangs successful Haiti, but the ngo has been mired with criticism, including that it has been understaffed and underfunded.

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