Gang threatens hostages, Haitian leaders
The boss of a notorious Haitian gang accused of kidnapping 17 members of a U.S.-based missionary group warned that the hostages would be killed if his demands aren’t met.
“I swear by thunder that if I don’t get what I’m asking for, I will put a bullet in the heads of these Americans,” gang leader Wilson Joseph said in a video posted Thursday.
Officials said early in the week that the 400 Mawozo gang was demanding $1 million for each of those kidnapped, although it wasn’t clear if that included the five children in the group, among them an 8-month-old. Sixteen Americans and one Canadian were abducted, along with their Haitian driver.
Joseph also threatened Prime Minister Ariel Henry and
Leon Charles, Haiti’s national police chief. Joseph spoke in front of the open coffins that apparently held several members of his gang who were recently killed.
“You guys make me cry. I cry water. But I’m going to make you guys cry blood,” he said.
Later in the day, Henry’s office announced that Charles had resigned as head of Haiti’s National Police. “We would like for public peace to be restored,” Henry said.
The missionaries are with Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries, and the families of those kidnapped are from Amish, Mennonite and other conservative Anabaptist communities in Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Ontario, Canada.
UNICEF said Thursday that 71 women and 30 children have been kidnapped so far this year, including a university professor and a Haitian pastor, who has not been released although ransom was paid.