Members of the "Gran Grif" gang, armed with assault rifles, carried out a massacre near Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, killing dozens of people and forcing thousands to flee.

The government of Haiti has deployed teams of anti-gang police following a mass shooting by gunmen in a town near Port-au-Prince, resulting in at least 70 deaths and the displacement of over 6,000 people.

"This odious crime against defenseless women, men, and children is not only an attack against the victims but against the entire Haitian nation," Prime Minister Garry Conille stated on X, adding that security forces were increasing their presence in the area.

On Thursday, gang members armed with automatic rifles attacked the town of Pont Sonde, then proceeded to set houses and vehicles ablaze, according to local authorities.

"Members of the Gran Grif gang used automatic rifles to shoot at the population, killing at least 70 people, including about 10 women and three infants," said UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan in a Friday statement.

The gang reportedly burned at least 45 houses and 34 vehicles, forcing many residents to flee their homes.

"The gang faced no resistance," said Bertide Horace, a spokesperson from the Dialogue and Reconciliation Commission to Save the Artibonite Valley. He explained that local police officers stayed in their station, fearing they would be outnumbered by the gang members.

Several people were shot in the head as attackers moved from house to house, Horace reported. "They were left to shoot anybody, and everybody was running in all directions. The attackers were walking, shooting people, killing people, burning people, burning homes, and torching cars."

Rights groups believe the death toll may be even higher.

Luckson Elan, the leader of the "Gran Grif" gang, claimed responsibility for the massacre, stating that it was retaliation against civilians who stayed silent while police and vigilante groups killed his gang members.

"This latest act of violence, targeting innocent civilians, is unacceptable and demands an urgent, rigorous, and coordinated response from the state," said Prime Minister Conille in a statement.

The Haitian police are "intensifying their efforts," the statement added, noting that agents from the Temporary Anti-Gang Unit (UTAG) have been deployed to support the teams already on the ground.

The attack underscores the worsening conflict in Haiti, where gang violence has claimed more than 3,500 lives since January.