Cuban Coast Guard Kills Four
Four people were killed after an exchange of gunfire between the Cuban Border Guard Troops and a U.S.-registered vessel off their coast late Tuesday night, Cuban authorities said, in an incident that has heightened tensions in the Florida Straits. “Cuba’s coast guard shot dead four people and wounded six others aboard a U.S.-registered speedboat in an exchange of gunfire off the island’s coast, the Interior Ministry said Wednesday,” according to FOX News.
According to a statement released by Cuba’s Interior Ministry, patrol units intercepted a speedboat that officials say was operating illegally in their territorial waters. Authorities alleged the vessel failed to respond to orders to stop and opened fire on patrol officers, prompting return fire. Four individuals aboard the boat were killed during the confrontation. No personnel were reported dead, though at least one officer was injured.
Cuban officials described the boat as U.S.-registered but did not immediately release the names or nationalities of those on board. It is clear that the vessel was going incredibly quickly, and according to a statement provided by the government, there may have been human smuggling or something illicit that was going on within the boat when the shots were fired.
In Washington, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State confirmed it is aware of reports of the incident and is seeking additional information from authorities. “We are monitoring the situation closely and remain in contact with relevant officials,” the spokesperson said. The statement did not confirm the identities of those killed.
The waters that are currently between Cuba and Florida have been a huge primary source when it comes down to migration as a whole. Therefore, as a result, the U.S coast guard is always patrolling the area, to ensure that those areas are not being used for migration purposes. “Florida Congressman Carlos Gimenez, a Cuban-American former mayor of Miami, said he would demand an investigation into what he called a “massacre”,” according to Yahoo! News.
Human rights advocates called for transparency and urged both governments to provide a full accounting of the encounter, including whether proper protocols were followed before deadly force was used.
Sources:
FOX News: Cuban coast guard kills four in exchange of fire with US-registered boat
Yahoo! News: Four shot dead on US-registered speedboat by border guards, Cuba says
Featured Image Courtesy of Coast Guard News’ Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of rikdom’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
