A fifth person has died following the fatal shootout last month involving a Florida-registered speedboat that allegedly opened fire on Cuban soldiers. Roberto Álvarez Ávila died on March 4 as a result of his injuries, the island's interior ministry said, without giving further details. The ministry added that the remaining injured detainees “continue to receive specialized medical care according to their health status.”
On February 26, Cuban soldiers confronted a speedboat carrying 10 people as it approached the island. The passengers, described by Cuban authorities as armed Cubans living in the United States, allegedly opened fire on the troops. Cuba said its soldiers killed four people and wounded six others. The government has since filed terrorism charges against six suspects who were on the boat.
Items found on the speedboat included a dozen high-powered weapons, more than 12,800 rounds of ammunition and 11 pistols, according to Cuban authorities. The boat was located roughly 1.6 kilometres northeast of Cayo Falcones, off the country's north coast. The registration number was provided, but the Associated Press could not verify the details as boat registrations are not public in Florida.
“The statements made by the detainees themselves, together with a series of investigative procedures, reinforce the evidence against them,” the interior ministry said, adding that “new elements are being obtained that establish the involvement of other individuals based in the U.S.” The shooting threatens to increase tensions between the US and Cuban authorities.
