Wednesday at midday, several shots were heard at the National Penitentiary, spreading some panic in the city center of Port-au-Prince, fueled by rumor on social networks suggesting an escape of prisoners.

However, Commissioner Jean Gardy Muscadin, in charge of the Directorate of Prison Administration, formally denied the evasion information evoking the beginning of a prisoner uprising following a general search.

According to our information, detainees were gathered in the prison courtyard to recover among others, of mobile phones, which would have provoked the anger of the prisoners who threw stones and other objects on guards. In order to prevent the rising movement did not turn into a riot, the agents of the penitentiary used their weapons and fired in the air several times to bring order back among angry inmates.

Several light casualties were reported, victims of a stone throw among the agents. Following this incident, specialized units of the National Police of Haiti were deployed in the zone according to testimonies of residents.

PI/ TB/ HaitiLibre