FBI Sends Special Investigative Team after Deaths of 5 Cubans

International Desk: PNN

A technical team from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrived in Havana, Cuba, to conduct an independent investigation into the violent gunfire incident in February that resulted in five deaths. The US Embassy confirmed the information on Wednesday.

Cuban authorities reported that on the night of February 25, ten Cubans aboard a speedboat registered in Florida attempted to enter the country illegally, carrying weapons and a large quantity of ammunition. During the confrontation with the Cuban border patrol, five people were killed. The rest were injured, detained, and receiving medical care.

The US Embassy stated that the FBI investigation will be “complete and independent” and will verify Cuba’s account independently. “We do not make decisions based solely on Cuba’s version of events,” an embassy official said. “We will make decisions based on US interests, law, and citizen safety.”

The dispatch of this investigative team comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Havana. Cuban authorities said the intruders attempted to enter with unstable intentions, while the US seeks rapid verification. The US government clarified that the operation was not a governmental mission, and no US officials were involved.

This incident has again sparked criticism regarding security, diplomatic relations, and potential conflicts in international waters in Central America and the Caribbean.