The Cuban government on Wednesday night said that the 10 people onboard a U.S.-registered boat involved in a deadly shooting with the Cuban Coast Guard were armed Cuban nationals living in the United States, the Associated Press (AP) reports.
Newsweek reached out to the White House via email for additional comment.
Why It Matters
U.S. officials said earlier that they were aware of or briefed on the incident and gathering additional information, underscoring the significance of determining the passengers’ identities, what they were doing in Cuban waters and whether any are U.S. nationals or lawful permanent residents.
What To Know
Cuba’s coast guard killed four people and wounded six during the exchange with the Florida-registered speedboat off the island’s coast, according to the country’s Ministry of the Interior, which identified the vessel’s registration number as FL7726SH. The speedboat approached up to 1 nautical mile northeast of the El Pino channel, in the Cayo Falcones, Corralillo municipality, Villa Clara province, per the ministry.
Cuban officials said when their Coast Guard approached the vessel, the speedboat’s crew opened fire on them. According to the AP, Cuba’s government said that the majority onboard the U.S.-registered boat “have a known history of criminal and violent activity.”
Who was onboard the U.S.-registered boat?
The Cuban Embassy in the U.S. listed seven of the 10 onboard, identifying them as: Amijail Sánchez González; Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez; Conrado Galindo Sariol; José Manuel Rodríguez Castelló; Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara; and Roberto Azcorra Consuegra. In an X post, the embassy also identified Michel Ortega Casanova as among those killed.
The embassy adds that there are ongoing efforts to identify the remaining three passengers who were onboard the U.S. vessel.
González and Gómez are wanted by officials in Cuba “for their alleged involvement in the promotion, planning, organization, financing, support, or execution of terrorist acts in #Cuba or abroad,” the Cuban Embassy says.
The AP notes that it cannot verify the Cuban government’s report. Newsweek also cannot independently confirm it.
The Cuban Embassy says that Duniel Hernández Santos was arrested and allegedly sent from the United States “to facilitate the landing and reception of the armed group and has confessed to his role.” He was arrested “within national territory,” the embassy adds.
This is a developing story that will be updated with additional information.
