MIAMI – The Cuban Ministry confirmed the death of four “Cuban residents of the United States” on Wednesday, following a confrontation approximately one nautical mile northeast of the El Pino channel in Villa Clara province.
Cuban officials say that a speedboat carrying 10 people and registered out of the state of Florida (registration number FL7726SH) was detected in Cuban waters and was later made contact with by a “surface unit of the Border Guard Troops of the Ministry of the Interior” in order to obtain identification.
According to a statement made by the Cuban Embassy in the United States, members on board the Florida-registered vessel opened fire on Cuban authorities, wounding the “commander of the Cuban vessel.”
Cuban officials argue that a shootout ensued, resulting in the deaths of four “aggressors” on board the U.S. vessel.
The six others on board the U.S. vessel were later detained, according to Cuban authorities.
In a statement later released by the Cuban Interior Ministry, the Cuban government affirmed that those aboard the U.S. vessel were armed with weapons and “intended to carry out an infiltration for terrorist purposes.”
The Ministry also stated that most on board the Florida-registered vessel “have a known history of criminal and violent activity.”
The U.S. government has yet to specify whether the four killed, or any of those on board the U.S. vessel, were in fact U.S. citizens.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was engaged in diplomatic duties in St. Kitts & Nevis on unrelated matters, has reportedly been fully briefed on the incident.
Rubio stated: “The majority of the information we still possess is what Cuban authorities are providing both the public and the U.S. government.”
Officials close to the White House assured that the administration will not be taking the Cuban government’s word on how events transpired on Wednesday, confirming that the United States will conduct its own independent investigation into the matter.
Rubio also added, “The United States will act accordingly,” noting when speaking to reporters:
“Suffice it to say, it is highly unusual to see shootouts in open sea like that,” he added. “It's not something that happens every day. It's something frankly that hasn't happened with Cuba in a very long time.”
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier also confirmed that the state of Florida will open a probe into the incident, pledging to work with federal officials, warning, “The Cuban government cannot be trusted.”
