Two police officers in Haiti lost their lives, and two others sustained severe injuries after an explosive drone accidentally detonated at a SWAT base near the country’s capital, as confirmed by authorities in Haiti. Led by Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, a special task force has been utilizing explosive-laden “kamikaze” drones since March to assist the police in combating well-armed gangs that have seized control of most parts of the capital. A private military company associated with Blackwater founder Erik Prince is also involved in these drone operations.
According to a statement from the prime minister’s office, the tragic incident occurred on Tuesday night in Kenscoff, a town situated on a hillside that holds strategic importance overlooking Petion-Ville, a diplomatic center. The drone, considered a kamikaze device, was inadvertently transported by residents and exploded on-site, resulting in the death of two police officers and causing serious injuries to two others. Reports from the Miami Herald indicated that the explosion injured a total of six officers, although the prime minister’s office has yet to comment on the matter.
Following the mishap, local residents discovered the drone after its operators lost communication due to adverse weather conditions. They brought it to the nearby police, where it exploded shortly after. An investigation into the deadly incident has been initiated by Haiti’s national police. Fritz Alphonse Jean, a member of Haiti’s transitional presidential council, expressed on social media the commitment to thoroughly investigate the tragedy.
Kenscoff has been under attack by armed groups since the beginning of the year, leading to widespread violence including mass killings, rapes, arson, and kidnappings, prompting numerous residents to flee. The conflict has resulted in over 3,100 fatalities in the first half of this year, as outlined in UN reports. Concerns have been raised by external parties, including the Canadian government, regarding Haiti’s use of drones in combating the gangs. Canada had supplied surveillance drones to support the police in their operations, though these drones were not intended for lethal purposes, as clarified by Global Affairs Canada to CBC News previously.