Santiago de Cuba shaken by two stabbings in a single day

Violence has struck hard again in Santiago de Cuba, where in less than 24 hours there were two knife attacks, one resulting in a fatality and the other leaving a young man in critical condition.

According to independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada on his Facebook profile, one of the incidents occurred on Avenue 40 in the Reparto Nuevo Vista Alegre, where Yudel Vegue Kindelán was stabbed twice, once in the neck.

The aggression left him seriously injured, and since 7:00 a.m. he has been in the operating room of the Saturnino Lora Provincial Hospital.

Relatives of the young man reported that, after the attack, he was able to reach the neighborhood clinic on his own, bleeding profusely.

There he received first aid and was urgently transferred by ambulance to the provincial hospital.

So far, it is not known who attacked him or the reasons behind the incident, and his relatives assure that there has been no visible presence of authorities at the scene, Mayeta stated.

Her sister, Samanta Vegue, publicly requested help in the comments section to find the person responsible for the attack.

He mentioned that Yudel is his older brother, that his mother is "distressed," and that he has a small son who does not yet know what has happened.

"This is something serious and sad... if anyone has information or leads, please send them to me privately," he pleaded.

He warned that if the aggressor's family sees his message, they should think and turn the guilty party in, because "those who protect him will also face justice, and it will not be light."

He added that above "there is an all-powerful God who will give each person what they deserve" and that, for the author or authors, "the only thing left for them is to repent and surrender; they have no other option."

The second incident occurred on the night of this past Sunday, around 9:30 p.m., during a summer party on the local road between Palma and El Cobre, Mayeta reported in another post on Facebook.

There, Deniel Veranes, the father of two young children, died after receiving a stab wound directly to the heart.

Witnesses reported that it all started as an argument and ended abruptly when the still-unidentified assailant delivered the fatal blow.

The attack took place near the Dos Palmas highway. Deniel was rushed to Ambrosio Grillo Hospital, but the medical staff was unable to save his life. Hours later, his family and neighbors gathered to mourn him, filled with grief and indignation.

According to Mayeta, this crime follows a common pattern: public parties without security, excessive alcohol consumption, and a complete lack of prevention.

As the community cries out for justice, the perpetrator remains at large and fear is growing in the streets of Santiago de Cuba.

Before these two incidents, the police arrested a young man in Palma Soriano accused of stabbing a nurse and injuring two other people in a brawl, a case that reinforces the trend of recent violent events in the eastern province.

In the capital, a particularly violent murder shocked a community in Havana, highlighting the lack of effective responses to the rising crime rate in residential areas.

Meanwhile, a young Cuban teacher reported being the victim of a violent assault in broad daylight, highlighting the lack of protection and the inaction of the authorities despite the seriousness of the incident.

In another case that has sparked outrage, a woman was murdered after reporting her aggressor three times, highlighting critical failures in the mechanisms for prevention and protection of victims of violence in Cuba.

Frequently Asked Questions about Violence in Santiago de Cuba