At least 47 people were killed and more than 50 others kidnapped after armed men attacked a community near Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, according to the United Nations.

The attack took place Sunday in Kenscoff, a community located in the hills above Port-au-Prince that had previously been considered relatively peaceful. The violence has raised concerns about the security situation in Haiti and whether recent efforts to improve stability are succeeding.

The mass abduction is believed to be one of the largest such incidents in Haiti in recent years. A gang leader has reportedly threatened to kill the hostages if authorities kill gang members during operations to regain control of the area.

Romain Le Cour, head of the Haiti Observatory at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, described the situation as a major political and security test for Haiti’s government, police and international mission.

He said the threat against the hostages creates a difficult situation for authorities, because failing to intervene could leave them accused of not protecting civilians, while an operation that results in hostage deaths could be blamed on the state by the gangs.

Kenscoff resident Marc Paul, 42, said several members of his family were among those kidnapped, including his brother, stepmother, stepfather and two cousins.

Paul also said his 16-year-old niece was kidnapped and raped during the attack. She later managed to escape and was reunited with him.

Describing his escape, Paul said he had to run over bodies as he fled the violence. He said he was struggling to sleep after witnessing so many deaths.

Paul’s family had previously lost their home during another gang attack in January 2025. However, he said the earlier incident was less violent than the latest assault.

He also expressed fear for his kidnapped brother after the gangs reportedly released a video connected to the attack.

The violence in Kenscoff has challenged perceptions that security conditions in the area were improving and has added to concerns about the growing reach of armed gangs in Haiti.

SOURCE: The Associated Press, Pierre-Richard Luxama, Dánica Coto and Evens Sanon, August 26, 2026.