Havana
Reuters
—
Cuban prosecutors on Tuesday formally charged six people with “terrorism crimes” and ordered them to be held in pretrial detention in connection with the killing of four Cuban nationals and the wounding of six others in a speedboat that entered Cuban territorial waters last week.
Cuba’s interior ministry announced a gunfight at sea last Wednesday, accusing Cuban exiles of firing on a border patrol boat, saying they had come from the United States with the aim of causing chaos on the communist-held island and attacking military forces.
According to Cuba, Cuban troops returned fire and captured six survivors.
There were no further updates on the injured detainee’s condition or whereabouts amid heightened tensions between the United States and Cuba. The US government effectively halted oil shipments to the communist-controlled island while demanding political and economic changes.
Cuban officials said the so-called infiltrators arrived with about 13,000 rounds of ammunition, 13 rifles and 11 pistols, and showed off the weapons captured from the studio in a television special on Friday.
They also showed photos of the vessel, which was riddled with bullet holes from a gunfight that took place at a range of 20 meters (66 feet).
Cuba said at least two of those detained had previously been on a list of terrorist suspects.
Prosecutor Edward Robert Campbell said on state television on Friday that the defendant faces a number of charges, including offenses related to acts of terrorism.
If convicted, Campbell could face up to 10 to 15 years in prison for misdemeanor charges, 20 to 30 years for more serious offenses, and possibly the death penalty, Campbell said.
American politicians have expressed skepticism about the situation in Cuba and called for an independent investigation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this was not a U.S. operation and no U.S. government officials were involved.
