‘I will put a bullet in the heads of these Americans’ – Haiti gang behind kidnap demand ransom in video
A Haitian gang leader has threatened to kill 17 kidnapped American and Canadian missionaries if he is not given millions in ransom money.
In a video posted on YouTube, the leader of the 400 Mawozo gang that abducted the group said: “I swear by thunder that if I don’t get what I’m asking for, I will put a bullet in the heads of these Americans.”
Wilson Joseph, who was dressed in a blue suit, carrying a blue hat and wearing a large cross around his neck, also threatened Prime Minister Ariel Henry and Haiti’s national police chief.
An aerial view of Christian Aid Ministries headquarters in Titanyen, Haiti. Pic: AP
Speaking in front of open coffins that apparently held several members of his gang who were recently killed, he said: “You guys make me cry. I cry water. But I’m going to make you guys cry blood.”
There was no immediate comment from Mr Henry or the national police chief, but on Thursday afternoon the president announced that the current national police chief Leon Charles had resigned and was being replaced by Frantz Elbe.
“We would like for public peace to be restored, that we return to normal life and that we regain our way to democracy,” Mr Henry said.
Earlier this week, authorities said the gang was demanding $1m (£720,000) for each person kidnapped, but it was not immediately clear if this included the five children in the group, one of whom is eight months old.
The abducted group from Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries is made up of 16 Americans and one Canadian.
Christian Aid Ministries called on the public to pray for those affected by the kidnapping. Pic: AP
They were kidnapped in Croix-des-Bouquets over the weekend – about eight miles outside the capital Port-au-Prince – along with their Haitian driver.
Before the video was posted, Weston Showalter, a spokesman for Christian Aid Ministries, told a news conference that the missionaries’ families are from Amish, Mennonite and other conservative Anabaptist communities in Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Ontario, Canada.
In a letter he read aloud from the families, they said: “God has given our loved ones the unique opportunity to live out our Lord’s command to love your enemies.”
Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas, and a surge in gang violence has displaced thousands of people. File pic: AP
He invited the public to join the group in praying for the kidnappers and those targeted, adding: “Pray for these families. They are in a difficult spot.”
Christian Aid Ministries later said it would not comment on the video “until those directly involved in obtaining the release of the hostages have determined that comments will not jeopardise the safety and well-being of our staff and family members”.
The number of women and children kidnapped in Haiti in the first eight months of this year has surpassed the total for all of last year, according to UNICEF.
World
Russia calls meeting with UK ambassador after Lord Cameron says Ukraine ‘has right’ to strike inside Russia with UK weapons
Russia has warned that Ukrainian strikes on its territory with UK-supplied weapons could bring retaliatory attacks against British military facilities and equipment on Ukrainian soil or elsewhere.
During a trip to Kyiv last week, Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said Ukraine “absolutely has the right” to strike back at targets inside Russia using British-supplied weapons.
Russia’s foreign ministry said the UK’s ambassador to Moscow had been “summoned” to make him “reflect on the inevitable catastrophic consequences of such hostile steps by London”.
The UK’s Foreign Office, however, contested the claim saying the ambassador had not been “summoned” but he had just taken part in a diplomatic meeting with ministry officials.
British ambassador Nigel Casey was called in for a formal protest, the Russian foreign ministry claimed, as it said Lord Cameron’s remarks recognised that Britain – which has given Ukraine billions of pounds worth of weapons to defend itself in the war against Russia – was now de-facto a part of the conflict.
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“Casey was warned that in response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory with British weapons, any British military facilities and equipment on the territory of Ukraine and abroad could be targeted,” the foreign ministry said.
“The ambassador was called upon to reflect on the inevitable catastrophic consequences of such hostile steps by London and immediately refute the belligerent provocative statements of the head of the Foreign Office in the most decisive and unambiguous way.”
A UK Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement: “The British Ambassador was not summoned. He met Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials for a diplomatic meeting.
“The Ambassador reiterated the UK’s support for Ukraine in the face of unprovoked Russian aggression, and restated the UK’s position on providing support to Ukraine.”
During Lord Cameron’s visit to Ukraine last week, the foreign secretary reiterated Britain’s unwavering support for Ukraine, whose troops have been fighting Russia’s invasion since the Kremlin launched its “special military operation” in February 2022.
“Ukraine has that right. Just as Russia is striking inside Ukraine, you can quite understand why Ukraine feels the need to make sure it’s defending itself,” Lord Cameron said.
Senior Israeli officials have been threatening a major military operation into the city of Rafah and surrounding areas in southern Gaza for weeks.
On Sunday, Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant warned it could take place “imminently” as talks on a ceasefire with Hamas fizzled-out in Cairo.
Now, they have taken a major step towards it.
War latest: Families flee Rafah as IDF orders 100,000 to evacuate
On Monday morning, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) released a statement instructing people in southeastern Gaza to advance towards an “expanded humanitarian area” to the north, centred around the city of Khan Younis, and a coastal community called Al-Mawasi.
The IDF said it “includes field hospitals, tents and increased amounts of food, water, medication and additional supplies”.
The claim will be greeted with scepticism by international aid agencies that have argued the Israelis have failed to do enough to facilitate such aid.
Civilians are being told to move to an ‘expanded humanitarian area’ to the north
The UN’s refugee agency in Gaza, UNRWA, immediately questioned the operation on X.
UNRWA said an offensive “would mean more civilian suffering and deaths” and that “the consequences would be devastating for 1.4 million people”.
The vast majority of people living in southern Gaza have already been displaced by the fighting further north.
And in what represents a significant juncture, the Israelis are instructing them to return to areas that have already badly damaged in this conflict.
Israel has been dropping evacuation leaflets from the air. Pic: AP
Khan Younis was placed under siege by the IDF in January and many neighbourhoods have been partially – or completely – destroyed.
However, there are no doubts about the Israelis’ intent.
Leaflets are now being dropped in southeastern Gaza, stating: “Anyone in the area puts themselves and their family members in danger. For your safety, evacuate immediately….”
Aerial strikes have caused havoc – but there are fears a ground attack would be even worse. Pic: Reuters
With this operation, Israel would test the very limits of support that it receives from Western countries like the US, the UK and members of the European Union.
Last week, US secretary of state Antony Blinken suggested an incursion into Rafah was a step too far, warning the Israelis had yet to produce “a clear, credible plan to protect civilians”.
Until it does, Mr Blinken said Washington “cannot and will not support a major military operation” in the area.
Read more:
Peace looks distant as ever after Israel refuses ceasefire terms
Inside Gaza protest’s last stand
Now, Israel’s chief ally and military backer will have to formulate a response, one which requires them to evaluate the nature and extent of this complicated relationship.
But it seems Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet have made up their minds.
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