Duke said some Colombian suspects “know more about” the Haiti conspiracy Reuters

Port-au-Prince (Reuters)-The Colombian president said on Thursday that many former Colombian soldiers accused of participating in the assassination of President Jovenel Moise went to Haiti to serve as bodyguards, but others knew they were planning crimes.

Haitian authorities stated that Moise was shot and killed by a group of assassins, including 26 Colombians and two Haitian Americans, at his home on July 7. Eighteen Colombians were detained and three others were killed by the police.

Colombian President Ivan Duque told La FM: “There is a large group of people who have been carried out so-called protection tasks, but in that group, there is also a small group of people who obviously have a detailed understanding of criminal actions. “radio.

“Is that an excuse for others? Unfortunately not, because they are also involved in this situation.”

The Colombian news magazine Weekly reported on Wednesday that one of the detained Colombians admitted to the Haitian authorities that seven of his compatriots were involved in the killing of Mois. Reuters was unable to independently verify the report.

Family members and colleagues of some detainees told reporters in Colombia that these suspects were hired as bodyguards and were innocent.

The head of the Colombian National Police emphasized on Thursday that the Haitian authorities are leading the investigation.

The Pentagon spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Ken Hoffman, said on Thursday that a “small number” of detainees had received U.S. military training during their service in the Colombian army. He did not provide further details.

Colombia is one of the most powerful military partners of the United States in Latin America. It has received billions of dollars in security assistance and training, focusing on combating Marxist guerrillas funded by drug trafficking, extortion, and kidnapping.

A U.S. government source said that a Senate committee is investigating the training of some Colombians detained by the U.S. military on suspicion of killing Moise.

The assassinations have plunged this already troubled Caribbean country into chaos, and gang violence has surged in recent months, causing the displacement of thousands of people and hindering the economic activities of the poorest countries in the Americas.

The New York Times reported on Thursday that Dimitri Herard, the head of security at the presidential palace, was detained and questioned why the attacker did not receive more resistance in the president’s home.