Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

US Embassy in Havana, Cuba Isaac Risco/DPA/PA Images

16 US employees hurt in 'unprecedented acoustic attack' in Cuba

Some of the staff are believed to have experienced hearing loss.

AT LEAST 16 Americans were hurt in what has previously been dubbed an acoustic attack on the US mission in Cuba, the State Department has said.

Spokeswoman Heather Nauert told reporters that the attacks appear to have ceased, but that several US government employees required treatment.

“We can confirm that at least 16 US government employees, members of our embassy community, have experienced some kind of symptoms,” she said.

Late last year US embassy staff and at least one Canadian began to feel the effects of what Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called a “health attack”.

Brain damage

US officials have said those hurt appeared to have been targeted by some form of acoustic weapon, in what Nauert has called an “unprecedented” incident.

No details of the injuries have been released, but a report on CBS News suggested at least one victim suffered what amounted to “brain damage”.

“We take the situation extremely seriously,” Nauert said, after revealing the new casualty toll.

The victims, some of whom have been withdrawn from Cuba, have been provided medical treatment in the United States as well as by US medics in Cuba.

© AFP 2017

Read: Former Thai PM ‘dodges court and flees country’ as she faces 10 years in prison

Read: Burglars smash hole in wall of jewellery shop and steal €1.9m-worth of goods

Author
View 46 comments
Close
46 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

    Leave a commentcancel

     
    JournalTv
    News in 60 seconds