An armed incident occurred in Cuban territorial waters involving a speedboat registered in the US state of Florida. According to official Cuban authorities, the vessel was detected by coast guard forces as it entered national waters.
During an attempt to identify and stop the boat, fire was opened on a Cuban border unit. Coast guard forces responded by firing their weapons. The shootout resulted in the deaths of four people on board the boat and injuries to several others. The captain of the Cuban patrol vessel was also reportedly injured.
Officials emphasize that the speedboat in question was a civilian vessel registered in Florida; there is no confirmation that it was operated by US government or military agencies. The nationality of the victims has not been disclosed at the time of publication.
The incident is being considered a violation of territorial waters and is being investigated by the relevant authorities.