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The afternoon of this Wednesday was stained with blood in Centro Habana when two men were killed in broad daylight on the street, an event that has shocked both neighbors and social media alike.
The scene, captured in a video shared by former political prisoner José Daniel Ferrer, shows the chaos and the reaction of those present at the location, as what seems to be a growing spiral of urban insecurity unfolds.
Two deaths in minutes and in plain view of everyone
"They just killed him", is heard in the recording, while the camera focuses on the body of a man lying on the asphalt next to a bicycle.
Around them, several people gather with astonishment and nervousness, in a scene that speaks for itself about the climate of insecurity experienced in some neighborhoods of Havana. But the terror did not end there.
Just a few moments later, another phrase from the recording witness announces a second horror: "They are beating the murderer. They just killed him. They killed him. They killed the one who committed the murder."
A second corpse appears in the image, lying at the edge of a sidewalk.
The events, according to the testimony shared by Ferrer, occurred around four in the afternoon on Águila Street, between Reina and Estrella, a central and heavily trafficked area of the capital municipality.
What prompted the tragedy?
Although there is currently no official version of events, Ferrer indicated that the origin of the conflict may be related to drug use.
"My source tells me that this issue started with individuals under the influence of drugs", he specified in the audio of the images.
The opposition figure also reported that this type of incident occurs frequently in the Cuban capital and other cities across the country, amid an alarming increase in drug consumption and trafficking.
The incident aligns with the testimonies of numerous citizens who, for months, have raised alarms about the accelerated deterioration of the social fabric, issues of addiction, and the rise of violence in a Cuba shaken by economic crisis, shortages, and institutional weakening.
Reactions: between fear, helplessness, and denunciation
The raw and striking images have sparked a wave of comments on social media. Dozens of internet users have expressed shock, fear, and outrage at what has occurred.
Some highlighted the contrast between the lack of collective actions against the government and the speed with which violence is exercised among civilians.
"It saddens me to see how my country is sinking into violence and drug addiction while the government calls for creativity and resilience," wrote a user, who accompanied their comment with hashtags like #DownWithCommunism and #FreedomForPoliticalPrisoners.
"Until measures are taken regarding drugs, there will be no rest. There will be no safety. People are already afraid to walk in the streets," warned another commentator, who recalled that Cuba was once one of the safest countries in the world.
"I'm feeling scared living here. We're no longer safe; we haven't been for a while, but now it's even worse, and it's going to get worse," commented another user, reflecting a sentiment that seems to be increasingly widespread.
Many messages also referred to a feeling of abandonment by the State and the uncontrollable phenomena that were previously unthinkable.
"That had never been seen in Cuba," asserted a woman. But another user replied, "That has been seen for a long time, but there was no internet before."
The double murder in Centro Habana is not an isolated case, but rather part of a troubling trend.
Although official statistics on crime in Cuba are scarce or virtually nonexistent, there are many citizen reports, independent publications, and complaints on social media about the rise in violent crimes, thefts, femicides, and settling of scores.
The absence of transparent figures, media censorship, and institutional control over information channels hinder a precise assessment of the phenomenon.
However, the testimonies that emerge from below paint an increasingly bleak picture: streets where people fear to go out, neighborhoods where drugs circulate unchecked, and a police force more interested in suppressing dissent than in protecting the citizens.
"To kill each other they are brave, but to kill women... that makes six and the year has just started," lamented an internet user; while others criticized the role of the authorities: "This is what these police should be focused on, not on the one selling peanuts or snacks."
Where is violence in Cuba headed?
The crimes committed in broad daylight in Centro Habana have once again raised alarms about the direction of Cuban society.
Violence, once perceived as a marginal or imported phenomenon, now emerges as a direct consequence of the economic crisis, social disintegration, and the lack of institutional response.
While the authorities remain silent, the public records, comments, and expresses alarm. But, in many cases, they also resign themselves.
One thing is certain: the Cuba that once prided itself on being a safe country seems to be losing that attribute day by day. What’s worse is that the state, instead of addressing the crisis with transparency, action, and prevention, continues to prioritize political control over social well-being.
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