A gang in Haiti is being blamed for kidnapping 17 American missionaries, including a 2-year-old, police reported.
The same gang—the 400 Mawozo gang– was blamed earlier this year for kidnapping five priests and two nuns.
The gang allegedly kidnapped the group, which included some elderly people, in Ganthier, Fox5 Atlanta News reported.
The gang controls the Croix-des-Bouquets area, including Ganthier—a commune that lies east of the capital of Port-au-Prince. They’re known for carrying out kidnappings and carjackings in this area.
They are also known to extort business owners.
Haiti has seen a spike in gang-related kidnappings within recent months, following the death of President Jovenel Moise, who was fatally shot at his private residence in July.
One month later, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake killed more than 2,200 residents.
According to the Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries, the missionaries were on their way home Saturday from building an orphanage. “This is a special prayer alert,” the one-minute message said. “Pray that the gang members would come to repentance.”
A U.S. government spokesperson stated officials are informed about the kidnappings.
“The welfare and safety of U.S. citizens abroad is one of the highest priorities of the Department of State,” the spokesperson said, declining to comment further.
The U.S. is in touch with Haitian authorities in an attempt to resolve the issue. Evidently, the gang is demanding ransoms ranging from a couple of hundred dollars to more than $1 million.
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