Minibus stoned in Havana: "The lives of the passengers were put in danger."

A minibus was stoned this Friday near the Frank País Hospital, in the capital municipality of La Lisa, following a traffic altercation with a motorcycle driver.

According to the Minister of Transport, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, the incident, although it did not leave any injured, caused alarm due to the level of violence and the damage to public property: "The lives of the passengers were put at risk."

The incident occurred on July 25 at 1:50 PM, when the Fotón minibus on route 48, registration B 259845, was heading towards its terminal at the hospital.

Upon merging into the right lane to stop, the driver performed a maneuver that was interpreted as a "lane invasion" by a moped rider, even though no collision occurred. The driver apologized and continued on his way.

However, upon arriving at the hospital and starting to pick up passengers, the driver of the scooter returned visibly agitated, threw a stone at the vehicle and broke the rear windshield.

She then tried to flee but was apprehended by two officers from the Technical Investigation Department (DTI) and taken to the station of the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) in La Lisa.

The incident involves one of the 50 new units that were recently integrated into the urban transport system of the Cuban capital.

According to Rodríguez Dávila, these are vehicles "that have cost us so much to acquire under the difficult conditions in which we live," which is why the situation deserves "the strongest condemnation."

Jaime Morera Estévez, director of Taxis Cuba, also described what happened as "regrettable" and emphasized that “a stone thrown breaks more than just a windshield”, referring to the social and symbolic impact of the event.

Authorities have called for collective reflection to prevent events like this from recurring or becoming normalized. “Such events cannot be downplayed,” stated the minister, emphasizing the need to promote a culture of dialogue and peaceful conflict resolution, especially when the safety of passengers and the protection of state resources are at stake.

This attack is part of a series of recent assaults on buses in Havana. In March and April of 2025, at least four buses were reported vandalized, including those of the P11, P23, and P7 routes, which had their windows shattered from stones thrown during their trips.

Specifically, a bus from route P11 (unit 8475) was stoned in the municipality of Guanabo and suffered damage to a right-side window.

Another vehicle was attacked in Santos Suárez, forcing the suspension of its circulation. Previously, in January 2025, a group of students threw stones at a P11 bus after an argument with the driver, resulting in the detention of at least one of the assailants.

These vandalisms critically exacerbate the public transportation crisis in Havana, where there is already a reduced fleet, a shortage of spare parts, and fuel. Each attack halts essential units, prolongs waits, and generates fear among passengers.

Although the authorities have strongly condemned the attacks and promised to enhance surveillance, the incidents continue to occur with alarming frequency.

Acts of vandalism against public transportation are a reflection of social frustration amid economic decline and the lack of effective solutions.

Frequently asked questions about attacks on minibuses and public transportation in Havana