Haitian gang attacks town, kills teacher, kidnaps residents and burns buildings

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Haitian gang attacks town, kills teacher, kidnaps residents and burns buildings

2025-09-20 05:38 Last Updated At：05:50

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — A Haitian gang attacked a small town northwest of Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince, killing, kidnapping and burning down buildings as gang violence devours the Caribbean nation.

Gunmen opened fired on the streets of Bassin Bleu around noon on Thursday, killing at least one high school teacher, according the Catholic Church and local leaders.

The surge of violence stirred panic in the community as gang members burned the police station, the town hall and a number of other buildings and looted a credit union.

It was the first attack of this scale in the community, which has largely gone untouched by spiraling gang violence besieging Haiti. Such brutal attacks on rural communities have grown increasingly common as gangs have gradually expanded their control across the country.

“Many people in Bassin Bleu managed to escape, and were forced to flee their homes and cross a river with a powerful current just to not be suffocated by the violence,” the office of the bishop in northwestern Haiti wrote in a statement. “What can we do because now we have nowhere to run."

The office and local leader Rodlet Jean Baptiste, speaking on Radio Caraibes, blamed the attack on the gang Kokorat San Ras, which has a firm grip on the region.

The gang is part of a larger gang coalition known as Viv Ansanm, behind some of the worst atrocities in the Caribbean nation in recent years. In May, the Trump administration designated the group as a foreign terrorist organization.

According to a recent report by the United Nations, “Kokorat San Ras, despite its limited numbers, is also a very brutal gang” that operates in the Artibonite region. Its roughly 20 members have “committed acts of extreme violence, forcing people to abandon large areas of cropland and threatening agricultural production.”

The bishop's office also cast blame on Haitian police and the country's government, which has struggled to reel in the heavily-armed gangs. It demanded action in easing soaring gang violence in the northwest region.

“Why are government authorities, who are responsible for our people's safety, letting the country reach this state?” it wrote. “Haitians have become the victims of our own fellow Haitians. We are tired.”

Haitian National Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment and more information on the attack.

Years of attempts by U.N. parties and world leaders, including the U.N. backed Multinational Security Support mission working alongside Haitian National Police, to put an end to spiraling violence in Haiti has done little to ease the bloodshed.

Just last week, gunmen threw a Molotov cocktail into an police armored vehicle, killing three people outside the capital. And days before that, dozens of people were massacred in a small fishing village, something a local official said “highlights the urgent need for effective state intervention.”

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned such attacks, saying he was “alarmed by the levels of violence rocking Haiti."

Eagles' Sirianni and Roseman offer few details on ouster of Patullo and what they want in new OC

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Eagles need a new offensive coordinator.

Ask most fans, commentators — and, privately, some players — and the change from Kevin Patullo was inevitable long before Philadelphia actually made the move this week in the wake of a playoff loss.

There's a “help wanted” sign for the new boss of an offense — one loaded with elite talent such as Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith — that fell way short as the Eagles failed in their bid to win consecutive Super Bowl titles.

Coach Nick Sirianni and general manager Howie Roseman were vague on details Thursday about why they waited until the end of the season to make the move — the Eagles ranked 24th in yards per game (311) and 19th in points per game (19.3) — and less clear on what they wanted out of a new coordinator.

“You’re looking to continue to evolve as an offense, and I’m looking to bring in the guy that’s going to best help us do that,” Sirianni said. “I think that there are many different ways to be successful on offense and everybody has different styles, everybody has different players, and there’s many different ways to be successful.”

The Eagles have plenty of credible candidates to choose from — everyone from Josh McCown and Cam Turner to former NFL coaches Brian Daboll, Mike McDaniel and Kliff Kingsbury. The new OC could have complete autonomy to run the offense, though collaboration has been key under Sirianni.

No matter the coordinator, the Eagles expect to be contenders again after playing in two of the last four Super Bowls. Just winning an NFC East title doesn't cut it these days in Philly.

“If it doesn’t end with confetti falling on our heads, I don’t feel like it’s good enough,” Roseman said. “I know that we’re not going to win the Super Bowl every year. I think I know that from a broad perspective, but I believe we can. I go into every offseason thinking we’re going to do whatever it takes to win a Super Bowl.”

Two-time All-Pro offensive tackle Lane Johnson has built a Hall of Fame-level career and won two Super Bowls since the Eagles made him a 2013 first-round pick.

Retirement talk was a hot topic for most of the season.

Johnson turns 36 in May and did not play after Week 11 because of a foot injury. He did not talk to the media this week when the Eagles cleaned out their lockers.

Roseman kept private his conversation with Johnson about retirement. Johnson reworked his contract last May and is signed through 2027.

“You're talking about a Hall of Fame player who’s been a huge, huge part of any of our success that we’ve had, and when you watch him play, he’s still playing at an elite level,” Roseman said.

Brown is likely staying put.

While he isn't shy about airing his grievances, the wide receiver is often worth the distractions because of his production.

Just not this season.

Brown had 78 receptions (down from 106 in 2023) for 1,003 yards (he had 1,496 in 2022) and only five 100-yard games. Of course, some of that dip in production resulted from how he was used in Patullo's offense. The changes ahead are one reason why the Eagles are in no rush to give up on the 28-year star — along with the $43 million dead salary cap hit they'd take if Brown wasn't on the roster.

“It is hard to find great players in the NFL and A.J.’s a great player,” Roseman said. “I think from my perspective, that’s what we’re going out and looking for when we go out here in free agency and in the draft is trying to find great players who love football, and he’s that guy. I think that would be my answer.”

Special teams coach Michael Clay had a virtual interview Thursday for the same job with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Sirianni also hasn't ruled out Patullo staying on the staff in a different role.

“I know Kevin’s going to have other opportunities, and obviously always want what’s best for Kevin and for his family, so we’ll see how that plays out,” Sirianni said.

Patullo could want a fresh start after his house was egged earlier this season and one area indoor golf establishment let fans hit golf balls into a photo of his face after the playoff loss.

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