US-Registered Boat Clash Leaves Four Dead in Cuba
Cuban authorities said that border guards shot dead four Cuban nationals who lived in the United States. The incident occurred after an armed confrontation with the US-registered speedboat near Cayo Falcones, off Villa Clara, on Wednesday. Officials also reported that six other passengers suffered injuries, while security forces detained them after the exchange of gunfire at sea.
In an online statement, the interior ministry said that the group opened fire when a patrol moved in to identify the Florida-registered vessel. The ministry added that the armed passengers had an intention to infiltrate the island “for terrorist purposes”. In the clash, officers recovered handguns, assault rifles, improvised explosive devices, and tactical gear from the craft.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that Washington has begun examining the “highly unusual” episode. He said that the United States would independently verify what occurred and would not rely solely on Cuban accounts. Rubio also confirmed that the boat did not carry US government personnel.
Armed Boat Interception Near Cayo Falcones Leaves Four Dead
Authorities detected the boat near Cayo Falcones early in the morning, after which a border guard unit approached it for identification. According to the ministry, the crew then fired at the patrol, wounding a Cuban commander. As a result, four people who were on board the foreign vessel died, while six others are under medical care.
The ministry later named the surviving passengers and stated that most had prior records of involvement in violent activity. Investigators also arrested an eleventh suspect, who they said admitted his involvement in the alleged plot.
Rubio Orders Probe as US-Cuba Tensions Escalate After Deadly Sea Clash
Speaking from Saint Kitts and Nevis, Rubio told reporters that, “We’re going to find out exactly what happened, who was involved, and we’ll make a determination on the basis of what we find out”. He added that the US Coast Guard had traveled to the vicinity to gather facts quickly. Rubio noted that, “It is highly unusual to see shootouts on the open sea like that. It’s not something that happens everyday”. Meanwhile, the tensions increased between Havana and Washington.
The episode unfolded amid a worsening fuel shortage on the island, which officials link to US efforts to block oil shipments from Venezuela. Meanwhile, the US Treasury said that it would ease some private sector transactions to support the Cuban people for commercial and humanitarian use. Cuban officials said that they would continue to protect territorial waters.
The incident followed the Miami commemorations, which marked the 30th anniversary of the Brothers to the Rescue shootdown. Florida Congressman Carlos Gimenez called the clash a “massacre”. While State Attorney General James Uthmeier pledged for a local inquiry. In the United States Senate, Rick Scott demanded a full investigation into what he described as a deeply concerning situation.
Web Resources on US-Registered Boat Clash
1. NBCNews.com: 10 Cuban nationals on U.S. speedboat intended to carry out an ‘armed infiltration,’ Cuba says
2. NYTimes.com: Florida Boat in Gunfight Had Cuban Nationals Intent on ‘Infiltration,’ Cuba Says
3. USAToday.com: Cuba says 4 killed after speedboat from Florida opened fire in Cuban waters
4. WashingtonPost.com: Cubans attempted to ‘infiltrate’ island on U.S. speedboat, Havana says