Police officers among seven arrested over deadly Haiti stampede

Stampede at historic site linked to security measures

A stampede that killed 25 people occurred at Laferrière Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage site in northern Haiti, during a cultural event on Saturday. The incident, which took place at the citadel in the town of Milot, has led to the arrest of seven individuals, including five local police officers and two staff from the National Heritage Preservation Institute (ISPAN).

The initial report of 30 fatalities was later adjusted to 25, according to the national police. The arrested group is currently in custody, with further legal proceedings pending. Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé stated that the event was “during a tourist gathering featuring many young attendees” and announced three days of national mourning for the victims, beginning Tuesday.

“People were shoving one another, and some perished from suffocation, particularly after tear gas was deployed,” said Jean-Hérold Pérard, the citadel’s engineer and former ISPAN director. He explained that one of the site’s two entrances was shut to collect visitor fees, prompting a surge as rain began to fall. Pérard also claimed that gunfire and tear gas were used, though it remains unclear who administered them.

Milot Mayor Wesner Joseph revealed on Monday that his administration was unaware of the event planned for Saturday. The mayor learned later that a local DJ had lured people to the site through TikTok. The citadel, constructed by revolutionary Henri Christophe after Haiti’s independence from France, took over a decade to build. It served as a key defense in a network of forts protecting the Caribbean nation from attacks.

Laferrière Citadel, also known as Citadelle Henry, has since become a symbol of Haitian independence. The recent tragedy adds to the nation’s challenges, as it continues to face extensive gang violence that has claimed thousands of lives.