JAKARTA - Police in Haiti clashed with gangs from Thursday night to Friday in an operation that killed seven gang members. Police also destroyed helicopters after an emergency landing.
In operations in the Croix des Bouquets area on the outskirts of the capital Port-au-Prince, helicopters experienced "melfunction" and were forced to make an emergency landing, according to a statement from the Haitian National Police (PNH) published on Facebook.
The officers survived but burned the helicopter so that the criminal gang could not take it back for use.
Earlier on Friday, November 15, social media videos showed gang members near the helicopter wreck.
It was reported that seven gang members were killed, according to PNH spokesman Garry Desrosiers. Police also found a semi-automatic Barrett anti-material rifle used in the shootout, which is a "high capacity" weapon that is "often used to terrorize civilians," police said.
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The Croix des Bouquets region is controlled by Viv Ansanm, which means 'Long live Together,' a strong gang coalition that has been designated by the United States as a foreign terrorist organization.
Criminal groups have expanded their control in Haiti in recent years and now control 90% of the capital. Gang violence has also displaced 1.4 million people, according to the International Organization for UN Migration.
The United Nations has supported a mission led by Kenyan police to fight gangs in Haiti, but the mission has been flooded with criticism, including staff shortages and funds.
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