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The Attorney General of Florida, James Uthmeier, announced the opening of an investigation following the death of four people in a boat registered in that state which was intercepted by Cuban authorities this Wednesday.
“I have ordered the State Procurement Office to work with our federal, state, and law enforcement partners to initiate an investigation,” Uthmeier wrote on his social media. “You cannot trust the Cuban Government, and we will do everything in our power to ensure that these communists are held accountable,” he added.
Cuban official version
The announcement comes after it was reported that the Cuban Border Guard intercepted a speedboat coming from the United States in territorial waters.
According to the Ministry of the Interior (Minint), the vessel did not comply with the order to stop and reportedly fired upon a Cuban patrol boat, which resulted in the confrontation. The outcome was the death of four crew members and injuries to six others.
Cuban authorities have not yet provided an official list of the victims or additional details about the identities of the occupants of the boat.
Reactions in the United States
Minutes before the announcement by the attorney general, Republican congressman Carlos Giménez reported on the social media platform X that “the dictatorship in Cuba has just attacked a Florida vessel and has murdered those on board” and demanded an urgent investigation.
The opening of the investigation in Florida anticipates potential additional diplomatic tensions between Washington and Havana as the circumstances of the incident are clarified.
So far, there has been no report on whether the federal government of the United States will initiate any additional formal actions.
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