Haiti crisis: heavy gunfire reported close to Port-au-Prince’s national palace

Large-scale gang assault on multiple government buildings in capital reported as violence causes political crisis to spiral out of control

• Explainer: what caused Haiti’s gang violence crisis

Heavy gunfire was seen on Friday near Haiti’s national palace in its capital of Port-au-Prince, according to reports by news agency EFE, as political turmoil sparked by prime minister Ariel Henry’s absence continued.

Haiti entered a state of emergency last Sunday after fighting escalated, armed gangs broke inmates out of prison and an estimated 10,000 people were displaced while Henry was in Kenya seeking a deal for an international force to fight Haiti’s gangs.