A group of U.S. missionaries were kidnapped in Haiti.
Four U.S. Christian missionaries have been kidnapped in Haiti.
According to a joint U.S. and Haitian statement, Christian missionary group Family Focus Global Ministries were kidnapped Friday night by gunmen in Haiti. The missionaries were taken from their van, which was parked outside of a mall, in the town of St. Marc near Haiti’s southern border with the Dominican Republic.
The four hostages were managed to escape after a shootout that followed the kidnapping, according to Rev. Tony Perkins, president of Family Focus Global Ministries.
Sunday marked the start of a tourist season in Haiti, which has been plagued by political instability since its destructive 2010 earthquake. The nations of France and Britain in particular have voiced concerns about the presence of foreign visitors on Haiti’s islands.
On Monday, two other U.S. missionaries were arrested. According to The Telegraph, Collett Davis from Grapevine, Texas, and Lester Pond of New Hampshire were in port seeking to bring livestock to Haiti.
Authorities have not released any details on the circumstances surrounding the arrests.
Family Focus Global Ministries raised over $3 million to sponsor the mission of over 200 missionaries in Haiti. The mission works to give medical aid to impoverished areas. Family Focus has published 17 books about the missionaries and their ministries.
Fox News confirmed that all missionaries were in good condition. The only known abductee, David, is reported to be in stable condition.
