The missionaries were abducted from a bus directed to the airport to drop off some members of the group before proceeding to a different destination in Haiti, a report by the New York Times announced, citing security officials from the crisis-engulfed Caribbean country.
The missionaries — which include 16 Americans, a Canadian citizen, and some children — were taken in the area of La Tremblay by what was thought to be members of the 400 Mawozo gang, the Miami Herald reported.
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A person familiar with the situation maintains one of the abducted Americans posted a cry for help in a WhatsApp group as the kidnapping was taking place.
"Please pray for us!! We are being held hostage, they kidnapped our driver. Pray pray pray. We don't know where they are taking us," the abductee announced.
The US government has been made aware of the kidnapping reports, and officials at the American embassy are reportedly looking into the situation.
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In the meantime, thousands of Haitian migrants have fled the nation, which is controlled by gangs, and come to the US in the last month. The mass exodus follows the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse who was fatally shot at his private residence on July 7.
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Moïse was replaced by Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who insists he has no desire to remain in power but has further delayed the country's presidential and legislative elections. Henry has further pledged to find the masterminds behind the president's killing.
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The missionaries were on their way home from building an orphanage in the Croix des Bouquets area when they were abducted on the road to Ganthier, according to Le Nouvelliste.
Heavily armed men had put roadblocks near Carrefour Boen and La Tremblay 17 between 8 and 10 am Saturday. They later kidnapped a bus transporting the missionaries as it passed through the area.
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A police source told the newspaper: "We don't have any other details but they kidnapped a lot of people. Yes, about fifteen Americans were kidnapped today" (translated from French).
Similarly, Pierre Espérance, director of Haiti's National Human Rights Defense Network, told the Washington Post he had been notified about the kidnapping on Saturday by Haitian officials.
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Although, a spokesperson with Police Nationale d'Haiti claims the department is not able to confirm the abduction.
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"Nobody contacted any police station and did not file a complaint either with the DCPJ to denounce the kidnapping of American missionaries," police spokesperson Marie Michelle Verrier told Gazette Haiti News (translated from French).
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A spokesperson with the Department of State explained the US government is also aware of the reports on the kidnapping.
"The welfare and safety of US citizens abroad is one of the highest priorities of the Department of State," the spokesperson stated, declining further comment.
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