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7 May, 2014 19:59

Cuba arrests four Miami-based exiles on attack plot suspicions

Cuba arrests four Miami-based exiles on attack plot suspicions

Cuba’s Interior Ministry has arrested four Miami-based Cuban exiles under suspicion they have been planning attacks on Cuban military installations. The government also accused the four of promoting anti-government violence.

In a statement published on Wednesday in the newspaper Granma, the men were identified as having “close links with the terrorist Luis Posada Carriles”. Carriles is a Cuban exile and ex-CIA operative living in Miami.

The men were named as Jose Ortega Amador, Obdulio Rodriguez Gonzalez, Raibel Pacheco Santos and Felix Monzon Alvarez.

Cuba stated that it would be contacting US officials over the course of the investigation.

“The pertinent gestures with the appropriate US authorities will be made to investigate these facts and avoid acts by terrorist organizations or elements located in that country that would put endanger the lives of people and safety of both countries,” said the statement.

All four admitted to plotting the attacks, according to the statement, with three of them saying they have been travelling around the island since mid-2013 to plan the execution of the operation.

The group was allegedly working for three other members of an organized group also based in Miami and linked to Carriles: Santiago Alvarez Fernández Magriñá, Osvaldo Mitat and Manuel Alzugaray.

Carriles has been wanted in Cuba and Venezuela since the 1976 bombing of a Cubana Airlines jet. The incident killed some 723 people. Although he was convicted of the bombing in Venezuela, he escaped from prison in 1985. He has additionally been under suspicion of involvement in hotel bombings on the island.

Cuban exile and former CIA operative Luis Posada Carriles (Reuters/Joe Skipper)

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