Four suspects in the brazen assassination of Haiti's president Jovenel Moïse were killed overnight following a tense standoff, Haitian authorities announced Thursday. Two more suspects were arrested and three police officers who'd been taken hostage were freed, officials said.
The takedown comes after Haiti's interim leaders announced a two-week "state of siege" in the country and locked down the nation's transportation hubs until the responsible parties can be brought to justice as questions grow over the Caribbean nation's uncertain future.
Haiti is in chaos after President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated by gunmen who stormed his home. Haiti's police chief says officers killed four suspects and captured two others yesterday.@VladDuthiersCBS explains. pic.twitter.com/1jZ9DRSfrk
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) July 8, 2021
Authorities commenting on the arrests overnight were clear they are not done with their manhunt, though. "The pursuit of the mercenaries continues,” Haiti’s National Police Director Léon Charles explained, warning “their fate is fixed: They will fall in the fighting or will be arrested.”
Haitian authorities have not yet released information on the suspects who were killed or arrested as questions swirl around the identities of those who carried out the assassination. In new videos showing the scene outside President Moïse's private residence, the attackers can be seen and heard yelling claims they are with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
American officials and Haiti's ambassador to the United States have both said DEA agents were not involved in the assassination.
NEW - Assailants of Haiti's president and his wife "identified" themselves to be agents with the United States: "DEA operation. Everybody stand down. DEA operation." Government official thinks the assassins were mercenaries.pic.twitter.com/tK4hTLaeCx
— Disclose.tv ?? (@disclosetv) July 7, 2021
The United Nations Security Council plans to meet Thursday to discuss recent events in Haiti, as well.
We now know that Moïse's wife — who was critically wounded in the attack — was taken to Miami to receive treatment for the wounds she sustained at the hands of assassins who killed her husband and plunged Haiti into yet more unrest.
The wounded first lady of Haiti, Martine Moïse, was flown to the U.S. for treatment following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.
— Bloomberg Quicktake (@Quicktake) July 8, 2021
4 suspected killers were fatally shot by police and 2 others were arrested, AP reports citing Haiti police https://t.co/JBo84S5zrf pic.twitter.com/jgQn3hb8Ju
When asked Wednesday about the situation unfolding in Haiti, President Biden told reporters "We need a lot more information" calling the assassination and state of Haiti "very worrisome."