The Cuban government stated that the interception of a speedboat from the United States in Cuban territorial waters was in response to an attempt at “infiltration for terrorist purposes,” in an armed incident that left four dead and several wounded on the northern coast of the island.

According to a statement from the Ministry of the Interior, the vessel, registered in the state of Florida with the number FL7726SH, was detected on Wednesday morning in the northeastern area of ??the El Pino channel, in Cayo Falcones, municipality of Corralillo, Villa Clara province.

According to the official version, a Border Guard Troops unit approached to identify the occupants, but fire was opened from the boat at the Cuban agents, resulting in an exchange of gunfire. As a result, four crew members were killed and six others were wounded. A Cuban officer also required medical attention.

Alleged suspects identified

Authorities reported that ten armed individuals were traveling on the vessel, all Cuban citizens residing in the United States. Following preliminary interrogations, six detainees were identified: Amijail Sanchez Gonzalez, Leordan Enrique Cruz Gomez, Conrado Galindo Sariol, Jose Manuel Rodriguez Castello, Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, and Roberto Azcorra Consuegra. Among the deceased was identified Michel Ortega Casanova, while the process continues to determine the identities of the other three dead. The Ministry stated that assault rifles, pistols, homemade explosive devices, including Molotov cocktails, bulletproof vests, telescopic sights, and camouflage uniforms were seized from the boat. Furthermore, it noted that Sanchez Gonzalez and Cruz Gomez are on the national list of individuals designated for alleged links to terrorist activities, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373 and Cuban law. Both are reportedly under criminal investigation and have outstanding arrest warrants.

Authorities also reported the arrest in Cuban territory of Duniel Hernandez Santos, who was allegedly sent from the United States to facilitate the armed group's landing. According to the official statement, the detainee confessed to his participation.

The incident occurs against a backdrop of renewed tensions between Washington and Havana, amid political and economic disputes that have marked the bilateral relationship in recent years.

Similar incidents involving irregular departures from the island were reported in 2022, some with fatal consequences.

The investigation, the Interior Ministry indicated, remains open to fully clarify the facts and determine criminal responsibility.

Rubio says the US will respond “accordingly” after the attack

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the US will respond “accordingly” once it has all the details about the Cuban attack on a boat from Florida, in which four crew members died.

“I’m not going to speculate or give my opinion; I want to know what happened. We’re going to find out exactly what happened and we’ll respond accordingly,” he told the press during a Caribbean Community (CARICOM) summit held in St. Kitts and Nevis.

Rubio pointed out that all the information known so far comes from Cuban authorities and stated that the Trump Administration wants to verify what happened through “independent information.”

The US Secretary of State denied having held talks with the Cuban government on this matter and ruled out the participation of US government personnel in the shooting.

He stated that the US embassy in Havana has requested access to the survivors of the boat, presumably US citizens, to learn about their situation.