They died in an attempt to hijack a fishing boat to escape to the United States
Cuban authorities confirmed on Tuesday that three people have been killed in an attePRAVDA.Ru Cuba marches against EU
mpt to seize a fishing boat 130 kilometers South from Havana in two events, which have taken place during the last days. Official reports say hijackers, who were trying to escape to the U.S., were presumably killed by their own fire in a shoot-out amongst themselves.
The confusing incident is currently under investigation, but authorities said the police was not involved. Apparently, three armed men tried to hijack the boat, but Cuban security forces soon surrounded them as other fishermen in the area noticed strange movements on board.
Then a woman who was using his children as false hostages, run away from the boat after the shoot-out was heard. The family left the boat as one of the children had been seriously injured in his head. He was taken to a hospital immediately, and is expected to survive. All three men on board the boat have been killed.
This was the first reported hijacking in the island since April, when Castro's regime executed three men who tried to sail a seized ferry to Florida. At the same time, the Cuban Government sent dozens of dissidents to long-terms in prison to crackdown an allegedly conspiracy against the Cuban revolution. According to official sources, the three men killed had criminal records.
As the hijacking attempt to the fishing boat failed, it is not yet clear what happened with a second action in which a state-owned vessel was stolen and sailed with around 30 people on board towards the Bahamas. Apparently, the hijackers succeed in reaching Bahamas' waters.
An official report says that the case is now under Bahamas jurisdiction and, as the final intention of the hijackers is to reach US coasts, it will be soon under Florida's laws.
Cuba had repeatedly blamed on US for the hijackings, saying that Washington was behind them to create the conditions of a diplomatic controversy that could, eventually, lead to military actions against Cuba. That was the official explanation given by Fidel Castro's Government, attempting to crackdown on dissidents.
Join Pravda.ru forum. Registration is free and simple