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(CNN) - As
many as 17 American missionaries were reportedly abducted by gang members in Haiti on Saturday, 14 adults and three minors, a source in the Haitian security forces told CNN.
The source warned that the investigation is ongoing and that more information will be available on Sunday.
The missionaries were traveling by vehicle on Saturday to Titanyen, north of the capital, Port-au-Prince, after visiting an orphanage in the Croix des Bouquets area.
They were kidnapped along the route between the two places.
CNN has reached out to the Haitian Ministry of Justice and the National Police, but they have not yet commented.
An Ohio-based Christian aid group called Christian Aid Ministries confirmed that missionaries and family members kidnapped in Haiti are affiliated with it, according to a Washington Post report.
The report cited a one-minute "prayer alert" from the organization and a person familiar with the kidnapping.
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The "prayer alert" obtained by the newspaper indicated that "men, women and children" associated with the group were being held by an armed group.
The one-minute recording confirms that the abductees include organization personnel as well as relatives returning from a visit to an orphanage in Haiti, according to the report.
"The mission field director and the US embassy are working to see what can be done," the voice said on the recording, as reported by the Washington Post.
"Pray for gang members to come to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ."
CNN has contacted Christian Aid Ministries directly by email and through the number listed on its website, but has yet to receive a response.
One of the kidnapped missionaries, a U.S. citizen, also posted a call for help on a WhatsApp group while the kidnapping was taking place, the Washington Post reported, citing a person familiar with the kidnapping who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"Please pray for us! We are being held hostage, our driver was kidnapped. Pray, pray, pray. We don't know where they are taking us," the message read.
It is unclear whether the message was a video or a text message sent to the WhatsApp group, nor is there information about the WhatsApp group itself in the Washington Post reports.
CNN cannot independently verify the authenticity of these messages or the report.
A spokesman for the US State Department said Saturday night that it was aware of the reports.
"The well-being and safety of US citizens abroad is one of the highest priorities of the State Department. We are aware of these reports and have nothing more to say at this time," the spokesperson said.
Kidnappings have increased in Haiti throughout 2021, with an increase of almost 300% since July.
There have been at least 628 kidnappings since January, 29 of which are of foreigners, according to data released earlier this month by the Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights, a non-profit organization based in Port-au-Prince.
Earlier this month, Haiti's Foreign Minister Claude Joseph called on the United Nations Security Council to strengthen the mandate of the UN's special political mission in his country to help ensure the safety and security of Haiti. civilians, according to a UN press release.
"These are the legitimate expectations of people who have suffered enough from gang violence, kidnapping and widespread crime," Joseph said.
