Cuban authorities intercept Florida boat with 10 armed individuals, as US investigates incident involving potential terrorists.
Cuban Authorities Report
“Authorities confirmed that a motorboat registered in Florida under number FL7726SH was intercepted carrying 10 armed individuals who, according to preliminary statements from the detained, intended to carry out a terrorist infiltration,” Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior reported. The ministry added that services secured assault rifles, pistols, Molotov cocktails, bulletproof vests, optical sights, and camouflage uniforms.
Suspects Identified
The Cuban Ministry of the Interior has identified all six detained individuals. “All participants are Cuban citizens living in the United States. Most of them have a criminal past associated with criminal activity and violence,” stated the Cuban Ministry of the Interior.
Among the detained are Amijail Sánchez González and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, who were wanted for promoting, planning, organizing, financing, supporting, or carrying out terrorist acts in Cuba or abroad. As a result, investigations are currently underway against them.
“Additionally, a Cuban citizen, Duniel Hernández Santos, was arrested on Cuban territory. He was allegedly sent from the United States to facilitate landing and receiving the armed group. He has admitted to his role,” the report stated.
US Response
“We immediately launched an investigation. The Department of Homeland Security, Coast Guard, and other services are currently involved in the case. Most of the information we have comes from Cuban authorities, who provide it to the public and the US government,” said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday.
“I will not speculate. I will not express opinions about something I don’t know yet. But we will find out exactly what happened and then respond appropriately. (…) It is enough to say that shootings on the open sea are extremely rare. This doesn’t happen every day. Frankly, this hasn’t happened in Cuba for a very long time,” he added.
“Usually, we don’t make decisions in the United States based on what Cuban authorities say,” he emphasized.
Political Reactions
Less cautiously in social media, Republican Congressman Carlos A. Giménez stated: “The dictatorship in Cuba attacked a boat from Florida and murdered people on board. This regime should be thrown into the dustbin of history!” he wrote on Wednesday evening.
The Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier reacted to the politician’s post. “I ordered the State Attorney’s Office to cooperate with our federal, state, and law enforcement partners to launch an investigation. The Cuban government cannot be trusted, and we will do everything in our power to hold the communists accountable,” he stated.
Incident Details
Early Wednesday morning, a motorboat registered in Florida was spotted in Cuban territorial waters.
“When a water unit of the Ministry of the Interior’s Border Guard, carrying five soldiers, approached the vessel for identification, the crew of the violating motorboat opened fire on the Cubans, wounding the commander of the Cuban ship,” reported Cuba’s foreign ministry.
As stated in the communiqué, “four aggressors on a foreign vessel were killed, and six were wounded.” “The injured were evacuated and received medical assistance,” the ministry reported.