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Cuba 'thwarts air hijack attempt' Cuba 'thwarts air hijack attempt'
(about 1 hour later)
Cuban authorities appear to have averted an attempted hijacking at Havana's main airport. A Cuban military officer has died after being taken hostage in an attempted hijacking at Havana airport, the interior ministry has said.
Local residents report a shootout took place on the outskirts of the airport, apparently between army recruits from a nearby military base and the police. The officer was killed by two army deserters who had commandeered a bus carrying passengers, officials said.
The Cuban government has made no comment on the incident. The two suspects were arrested at the airport, the officials said.
People living close to Havana airport say they heard sustained gunfire in the early hours of the morning, close to the terminal used for flights to Miami. People living close to the airport say they heard sustained gunfire in the early hours of the morning, close to the terminal used for flights to Miami.
Three men are understood to have been captured before they managed to get through the airport's main perimeter fence. The BBC's Stephen Gibbs, in Havana, says the men are understood to have been captured before they managed to get through the airport's main perimeter fence.
One report says they were travelling in a bus at the time, possibly having taken several hostages, and were intending to board a Boeing 737. One report says they were intending to board a Boeing 737.
Young recruitsYoung recruits
The plane had recently landed at the airport on a domestic flight and had a full crew on board, but no passengers.The plane had recently landed at the airport on a domestic flight and had a full crew on board, but no passengers.
The men are all believed to be young recruits from a military base just south of the capital, who abandoned their guard posts on Saturday, taking automatic weapons with them.The men are all believed to be young recruits from a military base just south of the capital, who abandoned their guard posts on Saturday, taking automatic weapons with them.
Over the weekend, police distributed leaflets with descriptions of the soldiers, describing them as armed and dangerous.Over the weekend, police distributed leaflets with descriptions of the soldiers, describing them as armed and dangerous.
This is the first reported hijacking attempt in Cuba since 2003. This was the first reported hijacking attempt in Cuba since 2003.
In March of that year two planes were seized in separate incidents, one of which was flown to Key West in Florida with 31 people on board.In March of that year two planes were seized in separate incidents, one of which was flown to Key West in Florida with 31 people on board.
The following month, three men hijacked a small ferry boat in Havana in an attempt to cross the Florida Straits.The following month, three men hijacked a small ferry boat in Havana in an attempt to cross the Florida Straits.
They were captured, tried and executed by firing squad in a matter of days.They were captured, tried and executed by firing squad in a matter of days.