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France 24
France 24
World

Investigation: How a Haitian congregation tried to take down a gang

Marco Haiti FRANCE 24 Observers Harold Police Port-au-Prince
"Haiti: Faith against bullets", a special investigation by the FRANCE 24 Observers team. © Observers

On August 26, an evangelical pastor and his followers attempted to attack a gang in the north of Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital, armed with sticks and machetes. The gang retaliated with firearms, killing at least 21 people. What exactly happened that day? Why did ordinary churchgoers go to confront an armed gang? The FRANCE 24 Observers team investigated in this special program: "Haiti: Faith against bullets".

"We're at war! We're going to attack them!" On August 26, Marcorel Zidor, also known as Pastor Marco, rallied his followers at the Piscine de Bethesda evangelical church in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. This church has a significant platform with a Facebook following of more than 110,000 people. Pastor Marco's aim was to confront the "Taliban" gang, led by an individual known as Jeff, operating in the Canaan district north of the capital.

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