President of Haiti Assassinated

Haitian President Moise was killed Wednesday in an armed attack at his private home in the capital Port-au-Prince by a group of terrorists who, authorities say, spoke Spanish and English and probably patois.

Haiti's first lady Martine Moise, who was wounded in the attack, was taken to a hospital in Miami, Florida, where she is being treated.

Haitian police had already arrested 17 suspects over the assassination, including two Haitian Americans and 15 Colombians.

The group of men that killed Moise was made up of two Americans and 26 Colombians, the nation’s police chief said Thursday.

Authorities have launched an investigation into how the suspects arrived in the country, but it is possible that they entered through the long border with the Dominican Republic.

The assassination has plunged the country into a leadership crisis. Moise, 53, took office in 2017 after a contested election. After he failed to hold legislative elections, the opposition had demanded he step down.

Only a day before his death, Moise had appointed a new prime minister, who was due to take office this week. Haiti is scheduled to hold presidential and legislative elections on Sept. 26.