At least 16 American missionaries and a Canadian citizen were kidnapped Saturday in Haiti on Saturday, and at least three children are among those being held by armed gang members in the chaotic country, according to media reports.

The missionaries reportedly were kidnapped while traveling by car north of Port-au-Prince, the nation’s capital, after visiting orphanages in the area.

missionaries, including children, in Haiti: report.

Embassy in Haiti has not publicly commented so far on the incident.

The Miami Herald reported that the group 400 Mawozo is believed to be responsible for the kidnappings. .

“This is the type of kidnapping that 400 Mawozo do; we call it a collective kidnapping where they kidnap any entire bus or car,” Gedeon Jean, head of the Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights in Port-au-Prince, told the newspaper, adding that the group is believed to be behind at least 80% of all kidnappings in the country

The group also appears to have a history of targeting religious workers

In April, for example, 400 Mawozo reportedly kidnapped five priests and two nuns in Port-au-Prince