Florida issues arrest warrant for Cuban leader Raul Castro

The state-level announcement mirrors a federal indictment from May as the US steps up pressure on the Cuban government.Florida, in the southeastern United States, has issued an arrest warrant for 95-year-old former Cuban leader Raul Castro.The move comes as US authorities step up pressure on the government in Havana.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3US open to Cuba talks on government change, Marco Rubio sayslist 2 of 3Cuba condemns US ‘collective punishment’ as Trump predicts deallist 3 of 3Cuba forges ahead with renewable energy plans amid US oil blockadeend of listState Attorney General James Uthmeier said on Monday that the warrant was based on criminal charges over Castro’s alleged role in ordering two unarmed aircraft to be shot down in 1996.The aircraft were affiliated with Brothers to the Rescue, a Florida-based group that helps Cubans fleeing the country. Four people were killed in the attack.Castro faces state-level charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in Florida.“Raul Castro ordered the murder of four Floridians in cold blood, and Florida will never stop pursuing accountability for that communist conspiracy,” Uthmeier wrote in a news release.He said the arrest warrant was necessary accountability for the lives lost. “Thirty years later, we are still fighting for justice for Carlos Costa, Pablo Morales, Mario de la Pena, and Armando Alejandre Jr.”The decision to shoot down the two small twin-engine planes has been the subject of renewed controversy over the last year, as Republican President Donald Trump seeks to oust Cuba’s communist leaders.The attack took place on February 24, 1996. US authorities say the planes were flying over international waters and received no warning before they were shot down.Cuban officials, meanwhile, have argued that previous Brothers to the Rescue flights had breached the country’s airspace, despite warnings to stay away.