A senior U.S. official stated that the United States is unaware of the location of American Christian missionaries who were kidnapped by a gang in Haiti on Saturday. CNN reported that the official, described as knowledgeable, indicated that U.S. officials from the FBI and the State Department are working around the clock to secure their release.
The American Christian organization "Christian Aid" reported that 17 missionaries, mostly Americans, were kidnapped by a gang in Haiti on Saturday. The Ohio-based organization stated that the kidnapped group consists of 16 American citizens and one Canadian citizen, including five men, seven women, and five children.
A security source in Haiti confirmed that investigations into the kidnapping of the American missionaries are ongoing. Haitian Foreign Minister Claude Joseph told CNN that Haitian officials are in communication with the U.S. State Department regarding the kidnapping incident.
The missionaries were abducted while traveling to the Titanyen area north of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, after visiting an orphanage in the Croix-des-Bouquets region. The U.S. State Department confirmed earlier today that it is aware of the kidnapping of its citizens in Haiti, emphasizing that ensuring their safety is a priority for the department.
This kidnapping incident occurred a day after the United Nations Security Council unanimously voted to extend the UN mission in Haiti for an additional nine months.
