PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) — Prime Minister Dr Ariel Henry has described as “barbaric acts” the murders of three police officers on Sunday by members of the Timakak gang during an ambush.

The General Directorate of the National Police of Haiti (PNH), in extending condolence to the families of the slain police officers, has identified them as Pierre Paul Dorcely, Nicolas Robinson and Medèze Fortilien.

It said the officers from the Intervention Brigade, assigned to the Thomassin sub-commissioner, were “cowardly murdered” in Thomassin 32, a neighbourhood on the mountainside south of Pétion-Ville where many upper class citizens reside.

“Our police brothers have …once again, fallen under the murderous bullets of thugs without faith or law. We deplore these barbaric acts,” Prime Minister Henry said in a statement.

“To the families, to the brothers in arms of these valiant police victims, we send our sincere condolence and we assure them of our solidarity. We renew to the Haitian people our unshakable determination to do everything to achieve the creation of a climate of security and stability in the country which is too bruised and bereaved.

“We are not insensitive to this situation and we are working hard to find a lasting solution,” Henry added.

In a statement, the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP) said it “deplores the alarmingly serious ambush against a police patrol” on Easter Sunday.

“The ministry mourns and deplores the death of three police officers, three servants of the company, and asks the colleagues, family and friends of the victims, custodians of State authority, to believe in its sincere condolence.”

The MJSP said it wanted to reassure PNH members and the general population that the Government and the high command of the police “are working together to ensure that law and tranquility reign”.

“The ministry asks the population to show lucidity and solidarity with the police so that the exactions of the bandits cease and so that the country can enjoy a lasting climate of peace and security,” it added.

The National Union of Haitian Police Officers said so far this year, 21 police officers have been killed in the line of duty.

Last month the United Nations called for the deployment of an international “specialised support force” to impede Haiti’s accelerating tumble into extreme violence, after more than 530 people had been killed since the start of the year.

“Clashes between gangs are becoming more violent and more frequent,” spokesperson for the UN human rights office Marta Hurtado warned, voicing “grave concern” that the security situation was spiralling out of control.

The UN agency said that already this year its staff had counted 531 killings, 300 injuries, and 277 kidnappings in gang-related incidents, mostly in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince.

The situation in the French-speaking Caribbean Community country has deteriorated significantly since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise, and with Opposition politicians calling for fresh elections as well as the removal of Prime Minister Henry. In addition, armed rival gangs have been terrorising citizens, engaged in kidnapping for ransom and other criminal activities.