Florida issues arrest warrant for Raúl Castro over 1996 plane shootdown
publishers 47articles 60first reported 19 Oct, 13:30 UTCdeveloping since 19 Oct · 10 editions
Florida authorities have charged former Cuban President Raúl Castro with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and secured a no-bail arrest warrant over the 1996 downing of two civilian aircraft that killed four Florida residents.
Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the charge Monday, alleging that Castro, then Cuba’s defense minister and first vice president, authorized the attack after Cuban intelligence agents infiltrated the Miami-based exile group Brothers to the Rescue and obtained its flight plans.
On Feb. 24, 1996, three unarmed Cessna aircraft operated by the group left Opa-locka Airport. Cuban MiG fighters shot down two of them, killing Carlos Costa, Pablo Morales, Mario de la Peña and Armando Alejandre Jr.; the third escaped. U.S. authorities say the planes were over international waters, traveling away from Cuba and received no warning. Cuban officials have argued that earlier flights by the group violated Cuban airspace despite warnings.
The Florida case follows a federal indictment announced in May that charged Castro with offenses including conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, destruction of aircraft and murder. Uthmeier acknowledged that the 95-year-old Castro may never appear in a U.S. courtroom but said the warrant could lead to his arrest if he travels to a country with an applicable extradition agreement.
China condemned the Florida warrant Wednesday. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning accused the United States of using judicial proceedings to pressure Cuba. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel previously called the federal case a political maneuver and accused Washington of distorting the circumstances of the shootdown.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 5 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one (7 if wire copies count as one too); this version written 54 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 47
- Source articles
- 60
- Given to the writer
- 8, 5 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8 (7 if wire copies count as one)
- This version written
- 54 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
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