Vol. 71/No. 20      May 21, 2007

In the early morning hours of Thursday, May 3, two individuals were captured as they attempted to hijack a civilian aircraft with the aim of traveling to the United States.

To carry out their plans, these individuals hijacked a city bus, took several passengers hostage, and used the vehicle to burst into Terminal 1 (domestic flights) of the José Martí International Airport, where they boarded a parked aircraft with no crew or passengers in it. Once inside the plane, the murderers, with four shots, killed one of the hostages, FAR Lieutenant Colonel Víctor Ibo Acuña Velázquez, who, despite being unarmed, heroically tried to prevent the terrorist act from being carried out.

Effective and coordinated action by the forces of public order made it possible to thwart the hijackers' aim and save the lives of the other hostages.

The criminals arrested are the last two perpetrators remaining at large following the April 29 murder of Yoendris Gutiérrez Hernández, a young soldier of the Active Military Service who was on sentry duty. Another soldier was wounded.

The criminals arrested, who were also on Active Military Service in the same unit, fled with two AK rifles. An intensive search operation was therefore launched, and measures were taken to prevent further victims.

At all times, the authorities received the decisive support of the population of the area, which facilitated the prior arrest of another individual implicated in the acts, who confessed that their aim was to leave the country illegally.

Demonstrated once again is the criminal nature of the Cuban Adjustment Act, which encourages criminal and vandalistic acts.

The highest authorities of the United States bear responsibility for these latest crimes, which add to the long list of terrorist acts that Cuba has been the victim of over nearly half a century. The latest release of a monster of terrorism [Luis Posada Carriles] gives fresh encouragement to such acts.
 
 
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California event promotes book
Cuban Authorities foil attempted hijacking in Havana  
 
 
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