Incident Overview
At least one American citizen was fatally shot and another injured by Cuban officials during the interception of a speedboat off the Cuban coast on Wednesday, according to a US official.
Cuban border guards shot dead four individuals and wounded six others aboard the Florida-registered speedboat. Cuban authorities accused the 10 people on board of planning "an infiltration with terrorist aims" and stated that the occupants opened fire first.
Individuals Involved
A third person aboard the vessel held a US K-1 visa, which is issued to fiancées of American citizens, the US official added. The owner of the boat claimed that the vessel had been stolen by an employee.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that Washington is investigating the "highly unusual" incident.
Cuban authorities initially stated that all 10 individuals were Cuban nationals residing in the United States. They also identified an 11th person who was arrested and reportedly confessed to involvement in the alleged plot.
Location and Details of Interception
The Cuban interior ministry reported that the speedboat entered Cuban territorial waters and was intercepted approximately "one nautical mile off Cayo Falcones" on the country's northern coast.
The ministry also noted that the commander of the Cuban boat was injured during the subsequent firefight.
Background and Evidence
Cuban officials added that most of the individuals involved had "prior records involving criminal and violent activity." The authorities recovered handguns, assault rifles, improvised explosive devices, and other tactical gear from the speedboat, according to their statement.
Ongoing Coverage
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