From Seattletimes · · 1m 10s
Florida charges ex-Cuban leader with plane attacks
Florida accuses former Cuban president of ordering 1996 plane attacks by Miami exiles.
In brief
Florida accuses former Cuban president of ordering 1996 plane attacks by Miami exiles. Florida brings new charges against Raúl Castro for directing spies to attack Miami-based Cuban exiles' planes in 1996. Originally reported by Seattletimes.
Florida brings new charges
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier accuses 95-year-old Raúl Castro of directing spies to infiltrate Miami exile group Brothers to the Rescue.
1996 plane attacks
Three unarmed Cessna planes were shot down by Cuban MiGs over international waters killing four occupants.
Federal indictment basis
Florida charges stem from federal indictment in May that included murder and destruction of airplanes.
Castro's role
Castro was Minister of Revolutionary Armed Forces and First Vice President of Cuba when he authorized the attacks.
Arrest warrant impact
Arrest warrant restricts Castro's ability to leave Cuba and travel to any country with U.S. extradition agreements.
Cuban response
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel condemned the charges as 'reprehensible' and 'staged in a pathetic Miami circus'.
“This reprehensible action against the Army General, staged this morning in a pathetic Miami circus with an electoral subtext, has no legal or practical basis whatsoever, nor will it ever have one”
U.S. military threat
Trump threatens military action in Cuba after White House blocked fuel shipments causing blackouts and food shortages.
Here's the gist
Florida brings new charges against Raúl Castro for directing spies to attack Miami-based Cuban exiles' planes in 1996.
