The suspects’ boat was loaded with tactical gear, assault rifles and improvised explosives, in response to Cuban authorities
Cuba’s Inside Ministry has launched new findings from its investigation into the lethal gunfight between Cuban border guards and a US‑flagged speedboat, saying the vessel carried 10 armed males whom authorities allege meant a “terrorist infiltration.”
Havana stated the conflict erupted Wednesday when border guard troops approached a Florida‑registered vessel, FL7726SH, working roughly one nautical mile off the northern coast of Villa Clara province for an identification test. The people aboard the boat allegedly opened fireplace first, wounding the commander of a Cuban patrol craft earlier than guards returned fireplace, killing 4 folks and injuring six others.
Cuban officers stated weapons and tactical gear have been discovered aboard, together with assault rifles, sidearms, handmade explosive gadgets similar to Molotov cocktails, ballistic vests, telescopic sights and camouflage uniforms – gear the ministry stated was in line with an tried “infiltration with terrorist targets.”
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Cuban coast guard kills 4 gunmen on US-flagged speedboat
Amongst these killed within the firefight, Cuban authorities have to date recognized Michel Ortega Casanova and stated they’re nonetheless working to determine the three remaining deceased. Amongst these detained, authorities have recognized all six contributors by identify, and a few seem on Cuba’s “nationwide checklist of people and entities” searched for alleged hyperlinks to previous violent and terrorist actions.
All contributors are believed to be Cuban nationals residing in the US. The Inside Ministry additionally introduced the arrest of a seventh particular person, Duniel Hernandez Santos, who allegedly confessed that he had been despatched from the US prematurely to coordinate the touchdown of the armed group.
Washington has denied any involvement within the incident, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisting the vessel didn’t belong to both the US Navy or the US Coast Guard. “Let’s have our personal data on this, and we are going to discover out precisely what occurred,” Rubio informed reporters, refusing to invest till reviewing unbiased knowledge.
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