Cuba Says Border Guards Kill Four on Florida-Registered Speedboat
Cuba says border guards killed four after a Florida-registered speedboat opened fire; six were wounded and detained and U.S. officials said they are gathering facts and investigating.
Overview
Cuba's Interior Ministry said its border guards killed four people and wounded six after a Florida-registered speedboat opened fire when approached for identification.
The ministry said the vessel carried 10 people who were "Cuban residents of the United States" and were armed and "intended to carry out an infiltration for terrorist purposes," according to its statement.
U.S. officials including Marco Rubio said embassy staff in Havana are seeking access to those aboard and that the Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security are looking into the incident.
Authorities said 10 people were aboard, four were killed, six were detained and another man was arrested on the island, and that assault rifles, handguns and Molotov cocktails were seized.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier ordered prosecutors to investigate, FBI agents spoke to the boat's Florida owner, and U.S. investigators said they will independently verify the Cuban account.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources foreground Cuban ministry assertions—placing detailed weapon lists and claims of an 'armed infiltration' up front—while using attributive qualifiers to distance reporting. They then highlight cautious federal responses alongside strongly worded Florida condemnations, a structural emphasis that amplifies the incident's seriousness while signaling U.S. skepticism of Cuba's account.
Sources (27)
![[UPDATED] Cuban Regime Kills Four in Shootout With Florida Vessel](https://media.townhall.com/cdn/hodl/2025/264/db4c322c-4517-4c0d-9d04-cdfa6d8260e6.jpg)
FAQ
Cuba's Interior Ministry stated that border guards killed four and wounded six after a Florida-registered speedboat carrying 10 armed Cuban residents of the U.S. opened fire when approached near El Pino canal in Cayo Falcones; the group allegedly intended terrorist infiltration, with weapons like assault rifles, handguns, and Molotov cocktails seized.
U.S. officials, including Marco Rubio, stated embassy staff in Havana are seeking access to those aboard; Coast Guard, DHS, FBI are investigating, Florida AG ordered probes, and they plan to independently verify Cuba's account.
The incident occurred on February 25, 2026, near the El Pino canal in Cayo Falcones, Villa Clara province, Cuba, about one nautical mile northeast of the canal.
A seventh person, Cuban national Duniel Hernández Santos, was arrested on the island for allegedly facilitating the infiltration from the U.S. and has confessed.
History
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