The Havana government claimed that the 10 people on the speedboat were planning to carry out a terrorist attack in Cuba.
listen to this article2 minutes
information
Published March 7, 2026
The Cuban government announced last month that a fifth person was killed in a shootout in which a Florida-registered speedboat allegedly opened fire on soldiers off Cuba’s northern coast.
The island’s Interior Ministry issued a statement late Thursday saying Roberto Álvarez Ávila died from his injuries on March 4.
Recommended stories
list of 3 itemsend of list
It added that the remaining injured detainees “continue to receive specialized medical care depending on their health status.”
On February 26, Cuban authorities announced that as a speedboat carrying 10 people approached the island, Cuban soldiers confronted it and opened fire on Cuban troops.
The passengers are believed to be armed Cubans living in the United States who are trying to invade the island and “cause terrorism.” Cuba said its soldiers killed four people and wounded six others.
“The statements made by the detainees themselves, together with the series of investigative procedures, strengthen the evidence against them,” Cuba’s Interior Ministry said in a statement.
He added that “new elements have emerged that support the involvement of other U.S.-based individuals.”
Cuba announced earlier this week that it had filed terrorism charges against six suspects aboard the speedboat. The government also disclosed items it claimed to have found on the boat. This included 12 high-powered weapons, more than 12,800 rounds of ammunition and 11 handguns.
Cuban authorities have released few details about the shooting, but said the boat was located off the country’s north coast, about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) northeast of Cayo Falcones.
They also provided the boat’s registration number, but the AP could not immediately confirm the details because boat registrations are private in Florida.
The shooting threatened to escalate tensions between US President Donald Trump and Cuban authorities.
Until recently, the island’s economy was supported primarily by Venezuelan oil, but its management is now in jeopardy following the abduction and ouster of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a U.S. military operation.
