At least 47 people, including five children, were killed and more than 50 others kidnapped by armed men in Kenscoff, on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Sunday, the United Nations confirmed on Tuesday, August 26, 2026. The incident is considered one of the largest mass kidnappings in recent years in the Caribbean nation.

A gang leader posted a video on social media threatening to kill hostages if Haiti's National Police harm any of his men during rescue attempts, stating, "If any of our soldiers are hurt, I will kill all of them."

One resident told the Associated Press that his family members, including his brother, stepmother, stepfather, and two cousins, were kidnapped. He also reported that his 16-year-old niece was kidnapped and raped but managed to escape, recalling, "I had to run over bodies" during his own escape.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack, highlighting the "alarming security conditions" in Haiti and emphasizing the need for both domestic and international security efforts. Via a spokesman, he called for Haitian authorities to act decisively.

Romain Le Cour, head of the Haiti Observatory at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, described the event as "a major political and security test for the government, for the police and for the international mission."

According to UN statistics released this week, more than 3,050 people were reported killed in Haiti between January and June 2026, while gang violence has displaced an estimated 1.5 million people.

Sources