World · Latin America · 33 mins ago
Florida issues arrest warrant for former Cuban leader Raúl Castro
Florida has issued a state arrest warrant for Raúl Castro, the 95-year-old former Cuban leader.
The warrant accuses him of conspiring to commit first-degree murder over the 1996 downing of two civilian planes, which killed four people.
The planes were linked to Brothers to the Rescue, a Miami-based group, and US officials say they were shot down over international waters without warning.
Cuban officials have said earlier flights by the group violated Cuban airspace.
The warrant adds state charges to a federal case brought in May over the same incident, including murder and aircraft-destruction charges.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel condemned the action as a political stunt with no legal basis.
Florida’s attorney general says the warrant could restrict Castro’s travel, but it is unclear whether he will ever face a US court.
Florida issued an arrest warrant for 95-year-old former Cuban leader Raúl Castro over his alleged role in the 1996 shooting down of two civilian planes.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said Castro faces a state charge of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
Four people died when Cuban aircraft shot down the planes affiliated with the exile group Brothers to the Rescue.
The warrant follows a federal indictment of Castro in May over the incident.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel called the action a political maneuver without legal basis.
- Who
- Raúl Castro, former Cuban leader, is the subject of the warrant.
- What
- Florida issued an arrest warrant and brought a state charge of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder over the 1996 downing of two planes.
- When
- Monday, October 19, 2026.
- Where
- Florida, United States.
- Why
- Florida authorities allege Castro directed the attack on two planes affiliated with Brothers to the Rescue, in which four people were killed.
Florida authorities
Cuban officials
Basis for charges
Florida authorities
Florida authorities allege Castro ordered the planes shot down and say the state charges pursue accountability for the four deaths.
Cuban officials
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said the action has no legal basis and called it an election-driven political maneuver.
1996 plane downing
Florida authorities
US officials say the planes were over international waters and received no warning before they were shot down.
Cuban officials
Cuban officials have argued that previous Brothers to the Rescue flights had breached Cuban airspace despite warnings to stay away.
Cuban aircraft shot down two planes affiliated with Brothers to the Rescue, killing four people.
US authorities brought federal charges against Castro related to the plane downing.
Florida prosecutors reopened the investigation into the case.
Florida issued an arrest warrant and announced a state-level charge against Castro.
- Age
- 95
- State charge
- Conspiracy to commit first-degree murder
- People killed
- 4
- Planes’ affiliation
- Brothers to the Rescue
- Incident date
- February 24, 1996
- Florida attorney general
- James Uthmeier
5 sources
Vorfall vor 30 Jahren: Florida erlässt Haftbefehl gegen Raúl Castro
Cuban president slams US issuing arrest warrant for Raul Castro as pathetic circus
Florida issues arrest warrant for Cuban leader Raul Castro
Kubas Ex-Staatschef: Haftbefehl gegen Raúl Castro im US-Bundesstaat Florida
Raúl Castro charged with conspiracy to commit murder in 1996 plane downing
What people are saying
Raul Castro ordered the murder of four Floridians in cold blood, and Florida will never stop pursuing accountability for that communist conspiracy
I’m not ignorant of the fact that Raúl Castro is an older man who’s probably not looking to march himself into Miami
The actions taken against the army general - this pathetic, election-driven circus in Miami -have no legal basis and never will
Our historic federal indictment laid the groundwork, and James [Uthmeier] and his team have now taken the important step of bringing charges under Florida law.