Mystery As US Expels Two Cuban Diplomats
Washington has expelled two Cuban diplomats after US embassy staff in Havana suffered mysterious physical symptoms, the US state department said.
It was not immediately clear what had happened, with spokeswoman Heather Nauert saying there were no “definitive answers about the source or cause”.
Reports suggest US diplomats could have suffered hearing loss related to the use of covert sonic devices.
Cuba’s foreign ministry said it was investigating the allegations.
It called the expulsion of its staff unjustified but said it was willing to co-operate with Washington to clarify what had happened.
“Cuba has never, nor would ever, allow the Cuban territory to be used for any kind of action against accredited diplomats or their families,” the ministry said.
The Associated Press reports the diplomats’ hearing loss could have been linked to sonic devices which emit inaudible sound waves that can cause deafness.
US officials, speaking to the agency anonymously, said investigations had determined devices had been deployed either inside or outside diplomats’ homes.
Ms Nauert said staff began complaining of the strange symptoms late last year.
While they were not life-threatening, she revealed that a number of people had been brought home to the US as a result.
Ms Nauert said the government was taking it “very seriously, and there is an investigation currently under way”.
It is understood that the two expelled Cuban diplomats left Washington DC in May, the BBC’s Will Grant reports from Havana.
Washington and Havana only re-established ties in 2015, following 50 years of hostilities between the two countries.
Washington has expelled two Cuban diplomats after US embassy staff in Havana suffered mysterious physical symptoms, the US state department said.
It was not immediately clear what had happened, with spokeswoman Heather Nauert saying there were no “definitive answers about the source or cause”.
Reports suggest US diplomats could have suffered hearing loss related to the use of covert sonic devices.
Cuba’s foreign ministry said it was investigating the allegations.
It called the expulsion of its staff unjustified but said it was willing to co-operate with Washington to clarify what had happened.
“Cuba has never, nor would ever, allow the Cuban territory to be used for any kind of action against accredited diplomats or their families,” the ministry said.
The Associated Press reports the diplomats’ hearing loss could have been linked to sonic devices which emit inaudible sound waves that can cause deafness.
US officials, speaking to the agency anonymously, said investigations had determined devices had been deployed either inside or outside diplomats’ homes.
Ms Nauert said staff began complaining of the strange symptoms late last year.
While they were not life-threatening, she revealed that a number of people had been brought home to the US as a result.
Ms Nauert said the government was taking it “very seriously, and there is an investigation currently under way”.
It is understood that the two expelled Cuban diplomats left Washington DC in May, the BBC’s Will Grant reports from Havana.
Washington and Havana only re-established ties in 2015, following 50 years of hostilities between the two countries.
