4 killed, 6 injured after Florida-registered speedboat enters Cuban waters
Four people were killed and six others were injured after a speedboat registered in Florida entered Cuban territorial waters, according to officials. Cuba’s Interior Ministry claimed that people on board the vessel opened fire on Cuban border guards who approached it.
The incident occurred Wednesday morning about 1 nautical mile northeast of the El Pino channel near Cayo Falcones in Villa Clara province, on Cuba’s north-central coast, according to the Interior Ministry. Cuban authorities said a speedboat with Florida registration FL7726SH entered Cuban waters and approached the area.
“When a surface unit of the Border Guard Troops of the Ministry of the Interior, carrying five service members, approached the vessel for identification, the crew of the violating speedboat opened fire on the Cuban personnel, resulting in the injury of the commander of the Cuban vessel,” the ministry claimed.
Cuban authorities said four people aboard the “foreign” boat were killed during the exchange and six others were injured and evacuated for medical treatment. The ministry did not release evidence supporting its account of the incident.
U.S. Congressman Carlos Gimenez, a Republican from Florida who represents parts of the Miami area, described the incident as a “massacre” and called for an immediate investigation.
“United States authorities must determine whether any of the victims were U.S. citizens or legal residents and establish exactly what occurred,” Gimenez said, adding that he has requested information from the State Department and the U.S. military.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said he directed the Office of Statewide Prosecution to work with federal and state partners to begin an investigation. “The Cuban government cannot be trusted, and we will do everything in our power to hold these communists accountable,” he said.
A person interviewed by Telemundo Noticias said three speedboats were involved and that two were able to escape, and alleged that the victims were from the United States. That information has not been confirmed by U.S. authorities.
It was not immediately clear why the vessel entered Cuban waters or what led to the incident.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
