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Police vehicle in Haiti (archive image)
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VALERIE BAERISWYL / AFP
Up to 17 American missionaries and their family members were kidnapped by criminals in Haiti on Saturday.
This was reported, among other things, by the New York Times, citing security officials from the Caribbean state.
An armed gang that has been wreaking havoc in the region for months has brought 15 to 17 people under their control in a suburb of the capital Port-au-Prince, an anonymous source told the AFP news agency.
According to the information, there are also children among the abductees.
It is unclear whether there is a ransom demand.
On the way to the airport
The act occurred after the US missionaries left an orphanage, it said.
They were abducted from a bus that was on its way to the airport.
Some members of the Christian group wanted to be dropped there before the rest of the group wanted to continue to another destination in Haiti, the New York Times reported, citing local officials.
A US government spokesman said Washington was aware of the reports.
"The well-being and safety of American citizens is one of our top priorities at the State Department," he said.
He did not provide any further information.
Haiti is currently in a deep political and economic crisis.
In July, President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in the poor Caribbean country.
A severe earthquake struck the south-west of the country in August.
130,000 houses were destroyed and more than 2,200 people died.
Armed gangs create additional insecurity in Haiti, and kidnappings are common.
According to the Center for Human Rights Analysis and Research, based in Port-au-Prince, more than 600 abduction cases were recorded between January and September this year, compared to 231 in the same period last year.
The rise in gang violence has displaced thousands of people and made economic activity difficult in America's poorest country.
wit / AFP / Reuters
