Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba

During the night of September 24, 2023, a terrorist attack occurred against the premises of the Cuban Embassy in the United States, when an individual threw two Molotov cocktails from the sidewalk over the perimeter fence of the facility, which hit the front wall of that diplomatic mission. There were no injuries to the personnel who were present at that headquarters. At the request of the Cuban diplomatic mission, officers of the United States Secret Service arrived at the building and had access to its facilities to verify the violent action perpetrated.

Anti-Cuban groups resort to terrorism due to the moral bankruptcy of their hatred against Cuba and the impunity they believe they enjoy. Regularly, in the official exchanges between the Embassy and the Department of State, we have warned that the permissive behavior of United States law enforcement agencies in the face of violent actions can encourage the commission of acts of this nature.

It is the second violent attack against the diplomatic headquarters in Washington since April 2020. On the night of that day, an individual of Cuban origin, standing in the middle of the street in the US capital and using an assault rifle, fired a burst of thirty cartridges against the building. Fortunately, there was no damage to the personnel inside the property on that occasion, but there was considerable material damage.

After three years, the perpetrator still awaits trial and the United States government has refused to classify the incident as a terrorist act.

The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations requires the United States, as a receiving country, to take all appropriate measures to protect the mission's premises against intrusion or damage and to prevent any disturbance of the peace of the Mission or impairment of its dignity.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemns this terrorist action and hopes that the United States Government will act in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, to avoid repeating these events.

The Ministry warns once again about the message that is being conveyed regarding the attitude of the U.S. government in the face of threats of this type against the Cuban diplomatic headquarters, but also against those of other countries in the city of Washington.

It also warns against the double standards used by the US government's supposed commitment against terrorism. (CubaMINREX)