HEAVILY armed gangs tried to seize control of Haiti’s main international airport on Monday, sparking exchanges of gunfire with police and soldiers.

The violence at Toussaint Louverture international airport was the latest attack on key government sites amid an explosion of violence that has also included mass escapes from the country’s two biggest prisons.

The airport was closed when the attack occurred, with no planes operating and no passengers present.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether the attackers had succeeded in taking over the airport.

Last week, the airport was struck by bullets amid ongoing gang attacks.

The attack occurred just hours after Haiti’s authorities ordered a night-time curfew following the gang attack on the two prisons, in which thousands of inmates were freed at the weekend.

United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric said: “The secretary-general is deeply concerned by the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Port-au-Prince, where armed gangs have intensified their attacks on critical infrastructure over the weekend.”

The government imposed a 72-hour state of emergency from Sunday night. 

Finance Minister Patrick Boivert, who is also acting prime minister, said: “The police were ordered to use all legal means at their disposal to enforce the curfew and apprehend all offenders.”

Gangs already were estimated to control up to 80 per cent of Port-au-Prince, the capital, and are increasingly co-ordinating their actions.

Unelected prime minister Ariel Henry travelled to Kenya last week to try to salvage support for a US-sponsored security force to help stabilise Haiti.

He took office following the assassination of president Jovenel Moise in July 2021 and has continually postponed parliamentary and presidential elections, which haven’t been held for almost a decade.

Mr Henry’s current whereabouts are unknown.