Cuba charges six exiles with terrorism in wake of deadly speedboat attack | Cuba
Cuban prosecutors have formally charged six people with terrorism crimes after a U.S.-flagged speedboat was involved in a deadly clash with the Cuban coast guard last week.
The Cuban defendants living in the United States are accused of loading weapons onto a boat and sailing towards Cuba in the hope of destabilizing the government in Havana.
The coast guard shot and killed four more people on the boat that came within a nautical mile of the Caribbean island’s coast during the Feb. 25 shootout.
At least two of those on the speedboat were U.S. citizens, and one of them was killed.
In the statement made by the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, it was stated that the defendants “will be kept in temporary custody”.
There was no further update on the condition of the injured detainees or their whereabouts at a time of rising tensions between the United States and Cuba. Washington has effectively halted all oil shipments to the Communist-ruled island while demanding political and economic changes. Donald Trump’s administration has made no secret of its desire for regime change in Cuba.
Cuban officials claimed the so-called spies came armed with about 13,000 rounds of ammunition, 13 rifles and 11 pistols, and displayed the seized weapons from the studio in a special television program on Friday.
They also showed images of ships, each riddled with bullet holes, from the clash, which they said took place 20 meters (66 feet) away.
Cuba said at least two of those detained had previously been listed as suspected terrorists.
The Cuban interior ministry claimed that the men came from the United States to create chaos on the island and attack military units.
The defendant faces a number of possible charges, including offenses related to acts of terrorism, prosecutor Edward Robert Campbell told state television on Friday.
If convicted, they could face up to 15 years in prison for lesser crimes and 20 to 30 years or even the death penalty for more serious charges, Campbell said.
US politicians expressed skepticism about Cuba’s version of events and called for an independent investigation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it was not a US operation and no US government personnel were involved.
Last week, Havana said Washington was willing to cooperate with the investigation.
After the Cuban revolution in 1959, such infiltration attempts by armed commandos from South Florida were not uncommon.
With Agence France-Presse and Reuters
