Haitian prime minister survived weekend assassination attempt -PM's office

FILE PHOTO: Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry speaks at a ceremony for his inauguration as Minister of Culture and Communication, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti November 26, 2021. REUTERS/Ralph Tedy Erol

PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) -Gunmen unsuccessfully attempted to assassinate Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry during an event on Saturday commemorating the Caribbean country's independence, his office said in a statement.

Henry's office said on Monday that "bandits and terrorists" had tried to shoot the prime minister at a church in the northern city of Gonaives where the ceremony marking the 218th anniversary of independence was taking place.

Local media said one person was killed and two were injured in the shooting. National police were unable to immediately confirm the casualties.

The prime minister's office said arrest warrants had been issued for the suspects who fired on Henry's convoy.

The attack has renewed concerns about the safety of officials in Haiti, which has been mired in political turmoil since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July.

Henry was appointed prime minister soon afterwards and the country has yet to set a date to elect Moise's successor.

(Reporting by Gessika Thomas; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)