Florida Issues Arrest Warrant for Raúl Castro in 1996 Shootdown That Killed 4

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 21

A Miami-Dade judge found probable cause to believe Raúl Castro conspired to commit first-degree murder in the 1996 shootdown of two Miami-based civilian aircraft, triggering a Florida arrest warrant.
The case centers on the Feb. 24, 1996 destruction of two unarmed Brothers to the Rescue planes over international waters, which killed four men from Florida during a humanitarian operation near Cuba.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said Castro, then Cuba’s defense minister, ordered the premeditated attack and said the warrant could restrict his travel to countries with U.S. extradition agreements.
Cuban-American lawmakers including Rep. Carlos Giménez and state Rep. Juan Porras called the warrant a historic accountability step, while saying their broader push against Cuba’s regime and for political prisoners’ release continues.
The state action adds to pressure on Castro, who was federally indicted earlier this year over the same killings nearly 30 years after the attack.