Four People on US-Registered Speedboat Shot Dead are Cuban Nationals
Tensions between the United States and Cuba have escalated following a bloody incident in the waters north of Cuba on Wednesday local time. The Cuban Coast Guard shot and killed four people on board a US-registered speedboat suspected of involvement in an infiltration attempt.
The Cuban Ministry of Interior stated that the passengers of the boat were Cuban nationals residing in the United States. In addition to the four fatalities, six others were injured and are currently in custody of local authorities.
The incident began when a Cuban Coast Guard vessel approached a speedboat with the Florida registration number, FL7726SH, near Cayo Falcones, Villa Clara province. According to an official statement from the Cuban government, the passengers of the boat opened fire first when approached for identification.
“As a result of the confrontation, as of this report, four attackers on the foreign vessel were killed and six others were injured,” the official statement from the Cuban Ministry of Interior read.
The Cuban side claims that the 10 individuals were armed and intended to “infiltrate for terrorist purposes.” Local authorities reported that they had seized a number of handguns, assault rifles, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and other tactical equipment from the scene.
US Senator Marco Rubio confirmed that his side is investigating the incident, which he called a “very unusual” event. Rubio stressed that the ship was not carrying US government personnel.
“We will find out exactly what happened, who was involved, and we will make decisions based on what we find,” Rubio told reporters during a visit to Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Rubio emphasised that Washington will not rely on one-sided information from the Cuban government and will conduct independent fact-checking. “It is very unusual to see a shootout at sea like that. That is not something that happens every day,” he added.
The incident occurred amid deteriorating diplomatic relations between the two countries. Cuba is currently facing a severe fuel crisis due to the US blockade of oil shipments from Venezuela.
In Florida, officials and members of parliament reacted strongly. Congressman Carlos Gimenez called the incident a “massacre,” while Senator Rick Scott called for full accountability from the Cuban government. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier even instructed local law enforcement to participate in the investigation.
The event also coincides with the 30th anniversary of the shooting down of the Brothers to the Rescue plane by Cuba in 1996, a historical event that also killed four people and remains a painful wound in relations between the two countries. (BBC/Z-2)
Cuban authorities have released details of the identities of the 10 people on the Florida speedboat involved in the shootout. Assault rifles and Molotov cocktails were found for the infiltration mission.
Cuban authorities have released details of the identities of the 10 people on the Florida speedboat involved in the shootout. Assault rifles and Molotov cocktails were found for the infiltration mission.
US Vice President JD Vance confirmed that the White House is closely monitoring the incident of a speedboat flying the Florida flag being shot by Cuban border forces.
The Attorney General of Florida has launched an investigation into the incident of a US-registered speedboat being shot by the Cuban Coast Guard, which killed four people.
Four people were killed and six others injured after a US-flagged speedboat was involved in a firefight with Cuban border guards near Cayo Falcones.
President Donald Trump labelled Cuba a ‘failed state’ amid the energy crisis. However, he denied plans to overthrow the regime as in Venezuela.