A violent incident that occurred this Sunday at the Antonio Maceo Vocational School of Exact Sciences in Santiago de Cuba left a young student seriously injured, according to preliminary reports.
The incident, which has shocked students, teachers, and locals in the area, again highlights the security issues affecting educational institutions in the province.
The independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada shared the first information about the incident on Facebook through his social media, where he discusses several hypotheses that emerged from testimonies of students and individuals close to the center.
According to one of them, young people from the San Juan neighborhood, near the school, allegedly entered the premises seeking revenge after some students played a prank on them beforehand.
Armed with knives and machetes, they reportedly initiated a confrontation inside the institution, Mayeta emphasized.
During the altercation, a student, in an attempt to escape from the attackers, reportedly climbed onto the eaves of a building and jumped into the void, sustaining serious injuries to the head, mouth, and nose.
Another version reported by the journalist indicates that one of the youths from outside the center climbed up to the dormitory of a tenth-grade student, assaulted him, injured him with a knife, and allegedly threw him from a considerable height, which would explain the severity of the injuries sustained.
Witnesses reported that classmates quickly helped the injured young man and managed to carry him to the street, where he was assisted by an ambulance that happened to be passing by and immediately took him to a medical facility.
Journalist Mayeta emphasized that he is in contact with medical and educational sources to confirm more details about the case, while keeping the identity of the affected individual private out of respect for their privacy and that of their family.
The reports also indicate that the security conditions at the school were inadequate and that, despite previous incidents involving unauthorized individuals entering the premises, no effective measures had been taken to prevent situations like the one that occurred.
So far, no official updates have been provided regarding the student's health, although it is known that his condition is critical.
In an update regarding the events at the Antonio Maceo Vocational School of Exact Sciences in Santiago de Cuba, independent journalist Mayeta Labrada reported via Facebook that the center has been occupied by military personnel and forensic vehicles to investigate the circumstances of the incident.
According to the communicator, authorities are working to determine whether the severely injured student "jumped or was pushed" from the ledge of the third floor of the building.
In recent years, various media outlets and official statements have confirmed a steady increase in violence in Cuba, a phenomenon that affects not only public spaces but also school areas.
In June 2024, the regime acknowledged the increase in crime, including the use of firearms, according to statements from First Colonel Eddy Sierra Arias, head of the Revolutionary National Police, who linked the phenomenon to drug trafficking, smuggling, and a deterioration of ethical values in Cuban society.
A month later, the ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel publicly acknowledged the increase in violence, crime, and addictions in the country during a session of the National Assembly. Despite the efforts claimed by the Ministry of the Interior, the leader admitted that the situation remained complex and that a firmer response was needed from all social sectors.
Even a survey published by the official magazine Bohemia in November 2023 revealed that 92% of respondents perceived a significant increase in violence in the streets, while nearly half knew someone who had been a direct victim of a violent incident. These data, although coming from media aligned with the regime, supported the widespread feeling of insecurity among Cubans.
Furthermore, the state-run press has acknowledged the lack of clear protocols and public statistics on these matters, as highlighted in an article from February 2023. The absence of official data not only hinders the institutional response capacity but also contributes to public skepticism regarding the narratives provided by state media.
To close out the year 2024, the government confirmed that crime rates remained high, as reported in December. Despite the measures taken, including new controls and operations, the situation showed no improvement.
Frequently asked questions about the incident at the vocational school in Santiago de Cuba
What happened at the Antonio Maceo Vocational School of Exact Sciences in Santiago de Cuba?
A young student was seriously injured following a violent incident at the school, where groups external to the institution entered armed with knives and machetes. The student sustained severe injuries after falling from a considerable height in an attempt to escape or after being attacked.
What is the security status in educational institutions in Santiago de Cuba?
The safety in educational centers in Santiago de Cuba has been called into question following this incident. There have been reports of inadequate security conditions and a lack of effective measures to prevent unauthorized individuals from entering the schools.
What actions are the authorities taking after the incident at the school?
The authorities have militarized the educational center and are conducting investigations to clarify the facts. An investigation is underway to determine whether the student jumped or was pushed from the third floor of the building.
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