Several Michigan residents believed to be among missionaries kidnapped in Haiti

DETROIT — Several radical from Michigan are among the 17 missionaries who were kidnapped successful Haiti implicit the weekend.

WXYZ has learned that six of the 17 are from Michigan, with their location basal being Hart Dunkard Brethren Church successful Oceana County connected the westbound broadside of the state.

According to the Associated Press, the FBI searches for 12 adults and 5 children linked to Christian Aid Ministries successful Ohio.

The quality outlet reported that the group, consisting of 16 Americans and 1 Canadian, was kidnapped Saturday during a travel to sojourn an orphanage.

On Monday, Christian Aid Ministries confirmed the adults scope successful property from 18 to 48 and that the 5 children are 8 months, 3 years, 6 years, 13 years, and 15 years.

One of Haiti's astir almighty gangs is believed to beryllium down the kidnappings.

According to the Wall Street Journal, they inquire for $17 million, adjacent to $1 cardinal for each kidnapped. Now, the FBI is involved.

Turmoil has rocked the streets of Haiti since their president, Jovenel Moise, was assassinated successful July.

Since then, determination has been a surge successful kidnappings, much than 600 truthful acold this twelvemonth and implicit 100 successful the past period alone.

A "protest strike" has besides unopen down businesses, schools, and nationalist proscription arsenic unions and different groups protestation the emergence successful transgression portion authorities proceed searching for a radical of 17 missionaries.

In all, determination are 16 Americans and 1 Canadian.

"It seems that arsenic galore arsenic six of these folks mightiness beryllium Michiganders, including adults and kids," Rep. Andy Levin said.

The White House said they are moving to get the radical backmost home.

"The US embassy successful Port-Au-Prince is coordinating with section authorities and providing assistance to the families to resoluteness the situation," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said.

The radical is believed to person been kidnapped by the pack 400 Mawazo, 1 of galore groups known to kidnap for ransom.

Haitian authorities accidental they're being held successful a harmless location successful a suburb of the capital, Port Au Prince.

It's akin to different orphanage operated by Detroit Mitch Albom, who helps attraction for mediocre children, providing food, safety, and education.

Albom was conscionable astatine his orphanage implicit the play erstwhile the onslaught happened and said 40 unit members, including 4 from Michigan, are inactive there.

'They're OK. They're safe. All the radical that we person moving with america successful Michigan are OK and safe," helium said. "We instrumentality large precautions. We don't instrumentality immoderate chances. We person security, equipped information extracurricular our orphanage."

With the surge successful kidnappings present making nationalist headlines, Albom and Levin anticipation the U.S. volition instrumentality action.

"It's 1 happening to beryllium calved mediocre oregon to unrecorded successful poverty, it's different to unrecorded successful terror," Albom said.

WXYZ archetypal reported this story.