HAVANA (AP) — On Wednesday, Cuba’s government reported that its military forces shot and killed four individuals on a speedboat registered in Florida, after the vessel allegedly fired at officers within Cuban maritime territory.
The Interior Ministry of Cuba released a brief statement concerning the incident, indicating that the boat was positioned about a mile northeast of Cayo Falcones, located off the island’s northern coastline.
There was no immediate confirmation about the presence of any U.S. nationals on board the boat.
Although the government disclosed the registration number of the vessel, The Associated Press could not instantly confirm details due to Florida’s non-public boat registration records.
Authorities reported that one Cuban officer sustained injuries, while four individuals were killed and six others were wounded during the confrontation.
The purpose of the boat and its passengers in Cuban waters remains unknown at this time.
In the statement, the ministry said Cuba’s government was “safeguarding its sovereignty and ensuring stability in the region.”
It’s not unusual for skirmishes to erupt between Cuba’s Coast Guard and U.S.-flagged speedboats in Cuban waters, but there have been no recent reports of passengers opening fire or being killed.
In past years, some of those U.S.-flagged boats were laden with unidentified items headed toward the island or they were going to pick up Cubans and smuggle them into the U.S.
Officials with the U.S. Coast Guard, the Department of Homeland Security and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Pentagon declined comment and directed questions to the U.S. Department of State, which did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
The incident comes as tensions simmer between the U.S. and Cuba in the wake of mounting pressure by the Trump administration. The two countries used to collaborate on drug smuggling and other crimes but have since stopped doing so.
Associated Press reporters Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska; Konstantin Toropin in Washington, D.C.; and Matthew Lee in Basseterre, St. Kitts contributed to this report.
