New human rights report blames police for recent massacre in Haiti

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A human rights group in Haiti has revealed new details about one of the country’s biggest massacres in recent years and unveiled security holes as authorities struggle to contain violent gangs.

The National Human Rights Defense Network said its report is backed by interviews with judges, police officials, armed civilians, the former head of a police station and more than 100 victims and their relatives.

The report provides the most complete account of the attacks that gangs recently launched on the once peaceful farming community of Kenscoff near Port-au-Prince, with at least 164 people killed, more than 70 kidnapped and dozens missing.

The human rights group asserted in its report released Wednesday that a “timely strengthening” of security could have prevented or limited the killings.

“This lack of response is all the more concerning given that available information indicated the existence of a serious and imminent threat to the population,” it said.

A spokesperson for Haiti’s National Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The human rights group noted that Kenscoff remained vulnerable after a January 2025 attack left at least 139 people dead or missing: “Serious institutional failures that contributed to…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/business