Cuban authorities say a fifth person has died following a deadly shootout last month between Cuban border troops and individuals aboard a Florida-registered speedboat off the island’s northern coast.
The Cuban Interior Ministry said the latest victim died from injuries sustained during the confrontation, raising the death toll from the incident that occurred near the Villa Clara province coastline.
The clash took place on February 25, when Cuban border guards intercepted a speedboat that had entered the country’s territorial waters. Authorities said the occupants of the vessel opened fire on the patrol boat, wounding a Cuban officer and triggering a shootout.
Cuban forces returned fire, initially killing four people and injuring several others aboard the boat. The latest death occurred after one of the wounded suspects later succumbed to injuries while in hospital.
Officials said weapons recovered from the vessel included assault rifles, pistols, and thousands of rounds of ammunition, with authorities accusing the group of attempting an armed infiltration into the country.
Several survivors were taken into custody and are under investigation, while Cuban prosecutors have filed terrorism-related charges against suspects linked to the incident.
The confrontation has heightened tensions between Cuba and the United States, with Cuban officials accusing individuals based in Florida of planning violent actions against the government. US authorities have said they are gathering information and conducting their own investigation into the incident.
The incident is one of the most serious maritime confrontations between Cuban forces and individuals arriving from US territory in recent years, adding strain to already fragile relations between the two countries.