Cuba announces the death of four crew members of a US vessel

The Cuban Ministry of the Interior announced this Wednesday the death of four crew members of a US vessel after a shootout with Cuban security forces near the coast, in waters near the province of Villa Clara.

The vessel, with registration from the state of Florida, “approached” Cuban territorial waters “one nautical mile northeast of the El Pino canal, in Cayo Falcones, in the Corralillo municipality.” After that, a unit of the island’s Border Guard Troops made up of five people requested identification from its members.

“From the offending boat, fire was opened against the Cuban troops, causing the commander of the Cuban boat to be injured,” he detailed in a statement, adding that, as a result, four crew members of the boat died and another six received medical assistance after being injured.

The authorities have opened an investigation to clarify the facts. “In the face of current challenges, Cuba ratifies its will to protect territorial waters, based on the fact that national defense is a fundamental pillar for the Cuban State in favor of the protection of its sovereignty and stability in the region,” he said.

RESEARCH FROM THE USA

From the United States, there have been several voices that have called for an investigation into what happened, among them the Attorney General of Florida, James Uthmeier, who has assured that “the version offered by the Cuban Government cannot be trusted.”

“I have ordered the state attorney’s office to work with our federal, state and law enforcement partners to begin an investigation,” he said in a message on his social networks. “We will do everything in our power to hold these communists accountable,” he added.