POLICE in Haiti have killed at least three people while repelling an attack on the country’s central bank.
A “group of criminals” targeted the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH) on Monday, an employee told AFP, leaving up to four dead and a guard injured.
The bank itself thanked security forces for “protecting our community”.
Haiti has been rocked by weeks of violence after gangs raided prisons, released thousands of inmates and forced the prime minister to resign.
In a statement on X, BRH said: “Following an incident yesterday near [our] site on Rue Pavee, security forces and the bank’s security team acted with professionalism and efficiency.”
The bank is one of a few key institutions still running in Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince.
BRH added that it was “deeply grateful to our officers and the state police for their vigilance”.
The employee, who spoke to AFP on the condition of anonymity, said “three or four” of the criminal gang had been killed in the attack.
They also told the news agency that the injured guard had sustained gunshot wounds.
BBC News was not able to independently verify these claims.
Police have been trying to recapture areas of Port-au-Prince held by notorious gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, nicknamed “Barbecue”.
The power struggle has led to an uptick in violence – including gun fights – on the streets of Haiti, a country which struggled with gang violence long before the recent crisis.
Haitians told the BBC they could see no end to what is happening in the Caribbean country, with Port-au-Prince and the surrounding region under a month-long state of emergency.
Last week, following mounting pressure, Ariel Henry agreed to step aside as prime minister to allow the formation of an interim government.