17 U.S. Missionaries And Their Families Snatched In Haiti

As many as 17 American Christian missionaries and their families, including children, were kidnapped over the weekend by gang members in Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince, the New York Times reported, citing security officials there.

Photo Insert: A Christian Aid Ministries humanitarian aid program

The kidnapping happened as the missionaries linked to Christian Aid Ministries were leaving an orphanage in the crisis-engulfed Caribbean nation, the Times said.

They were abducted from a bus headed to the airport to drop off some members of the group before continuing to another destination in Haiti, the report added, citing local officials, Reuters revealed.

Jennifer Viau, a spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department in Washington, said by email that "we’re looking into this."

The US Embassy in Haiti did not respond to a request for comment outside business hours. A spokeswoman for the Haitian police said she was seeking information on the issue. The report did not give details on the missionaries or their church.

A surge in gang violence has displaced thousands and hampered economic activity in the poorest country in the Americas. Violence spiraled after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July and an earthquake in August that killed over 2,000 people.

The abduction of the 16 Americans and one Canadian was carried out by the 400 Mawozo gang, a group with a long record of killings, kidnappings, and extortion.

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