PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — The United Nations is investigating the shooting of dozens of prisoners during a jail riot in the chaotic days after Haiti’s earthquake, a spokesman for the U.N. peacekeeping mission confirmed Saturday.
The official commented after The New York Times posted a story on its website reporting the riot and suspected killings by police. The Times said there were indications Haitian officials were covering up what happened in the town of Les Cayes.
The Times’ account concerns a largely unnoticed riot that took place Jan. 19, a week after the quake that killed 230,000 to 300,000 people in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas, according to government estimates. The Times said it appeared 12 to 19 prisoners were killed and up to 40 wounded by gunshots.
The newspaper said the riot started when some of the 467 prisoners tried to escape.
