AN ARMED gang in central Haiti killed at least 20 people in the early hours of Wednesday morning while they were sleeping in their homes.

The attack was carried out in the commune of Petite Riviere by members of the Gran Griff gang, according to authorities.  

The gang is led by Luckson Elan and allegedly has the support of former member of parliament Prophane Victor.

General co-ordinator of the Artibonite Peace Initiative Committee (Kilba), Andre Saint-Louis, described the scene as one of the cruellest he had ever seen.

“Children have been killed while they were sleeping,” he said.

Mr Saint-Louis claimed that security had improved during recent months in the region, especially in areas previously controlled by gangs such as Carrefour Peille. 

Improved security has allowed residents to return to their homes and resume farming, including rice production, which is vital to the community.

This is not the first attack blamed on the Gran Griff gang. 

In October, they were accused of being responsible for the massacre of approximately 115 people in Pont Sonde, around 62 miles from the capital Port-au-Prince.

Also last week, around 180 mostly elderly people were killed in the Cite Soleil neighbourhood, accused of practising witchcraft.