UNITED NATIONS (CMC) — United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday condemned the attack by heavily armed gang members on the town of Mirebalais, 30 miles north-east of the capital, that the authorities in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (Caricom) country said resulted in indiscriminately killing and injuring several residents.

The authorities said that the attack was carried out by members of the “Viv ansanm” gang who also burnt several houses and vehicles, and fired automatic weapons.

“I can tell you that the secretary general condemns a gang attack in Mirebalais Centre department, which reportedly resulted in the escape of more than 500 detainees from a local prison,” said Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesman for the UN secretary general.

He told a briefing at the UN Headquarters that Guterres has also called on the Haitian authorities and stakeholder, with the support of the international community, “to redouble their efforts to restore security, protect civilians and create the required conditions for the restoration of democratic institutions.

“This includes ensuring that the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission and the Haitian National Police (PNH) are equipped with the required resources, the required logistics and the required personnel to fulfil their mandate,” Dujarric said.

Earlier, the PNH said they had regained control of the town with the PNH deputy spokesperson, Lionel Lazarre, saying that the gang members had on Monday attacked the police station, forcing the understaffed police officers to flee and setting fire to the premises. He said they also stormed the Mirebalais civil prison and opened all the cells, resulting in the escape of more than 500 prisoners.

In a video posted on social media, a man is seen hoisting an automatic rifle as people around him yelled, “We broke out the prisoners!” Soon after, they began chanting, “They can’t stop us!”

The action of the gang members caused widespread panic, forcing many families to flee to neighbouring towns, including Lascahobas, Boucan-Carré, and Hinche. The action forced the closure of schools, shops, public markets, and supermarkets. Public transportation was also paralysed.

Lazarre said that SWAT units and members of the elite Research and Intervention Brigade (BRI) were transported by helicopter to Mirebalai and were able to repel the attackers.

He said the police station and the civilian prison were recaptured and that several of the gange members were fatally injured. Firearms and ammunition were also recovered by the PNH.

Lazarre confirmed that the town of Mirebalais is now under control and that several specialised PNH units have been deployed to the area.

Criminal gangs have been seeking to overthrow the Government ever since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise.

The United Nations Security Council in 2023 passed a resolution for the Kenya-led MSS mission, aimed at combating gang violence and restoring stability in the country. Criminal gangs are seeking to take complete control of the capital Port-au-Prince, and have launched several attacks, killing women and children, among others.