Official says police in Haiti killed 5 armed environmental protection agents during ongoing protests

Source: Associated Press

Official says police in Haiti killed 5 armed environmental protection agents during ongoing protests

BY EVENS SANON
Updated 8:40 PM EST, February 7, 2024

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Police killed five armed environmental protection agents in Haiti’s capital Wednesday during the third consecutive day of demonstrations that have paralyzed the country amid growing demands that Prime Minister Ariel Henry resign.

The deadly shooting between police and agents with Haiti’s Security Brigade for Protected Areas occurred in the Laboule community of Port-au-Prince, Lionel Lazarre, head of a police union known as Synapoha, told The Associated Press. Lazarre wasn’t at the scene but said he was briefed about the shooting by officers who were involved. He had said earlier that four were killed and later updated the number of victims to five.

He claimed that the environmental agents opened fire after police asked them to drop their weapons, prompting officers to shoot. The AP could not independently verify the claim, and the Security Brigade for Protected Areas could not be immediately reached for comment.

The environmental division has recently come under scrutiny after its agents in northern Haiti clashed with police.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/haiti-bsap-officers-killed-protests-ee554ab7e2d998ccccbbd75318e062af