The security situation in Kenscoff and across Haiti is deteriorating, with intensified gang activity and mass abductions after periods of relative calm.

Witnesses and officials report significant property damage, including arson of homes and the killing of government employees, underscoring the human and institutional toll.

The attack comes on the heels of the U.S. deportations of more than 160 Haitians, including some TPS holders, amid broader political tensions.

A powerful gang coalition launched an assault on Kenscoff, a farming community above Port-au-Prince, killing residents and setting fires to homes.

Gang leader Izo 2, also known as Johnson André, threatened to kill police hostages if any gang members are harmed, a warning circulated on social media.

Haiti’s government condemned the massacre, pledged reinforcements, and vowed that security forces would pursue those responsible.

Gangs control a large portion of Port-au-Prince, driving displacement of about 1.5 million people and contributing to high casualties in recent months.

Officials point to Viv Ansanm, designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S., as a driver of the attack, noting locations hit include a church and the home of a NGO doctor.

Analysts say the assault is a strategic move to pressure security forces before Haiti’s general elections and to project force to government and police.

Experts explain Kenscoff’s proximity to Pétion-Ville makes it a strategic route-control hub for gangs, complicating security efforts.

The mass attack in Kenscoff left dozens dead and more than 50 kidnapped, marking one of the largest kidnapping episodes in recent years.

Authorities say security responses are ongoing, including deployments and armored vehicles in Kenscoff.