Statement by the Anti-Communist War Council on the Manuel Milanés incident

The Council for Anti-Communist Warfare recently released an official statement detailing Thursday’s incident, in which the organization’s leader, Cuban Manuel Milaneswas injured. The statement makes it clear that the incident was not an assassination attempt.

“In the early hours of the morning in Hail Mary“In the home of our director Manuel Milanés, a violent incident occurred in front of his house. In an alleged domestic violence dispute, a person attacked his partner or ex-partner who was in a car with several children. The attacker fired two shots at the vehicle in front of Manuel Milanés' house. Milanés called the police and then went outside in his pajamas to defend the attacked family,” the statement said.

The note goes on to say that the attacker – who was “unknown to Manuel” – shot the popular Cuban-born opposition figure and economist before immediately fleeing the scene. “After crashing his car while trying to escape, he continued on foot and was eventually caught by the sheriff's office, which used helicopters and the latest technology to find him hiding in a swamp,” the document says. The note also criticized initial reports by some media outlets that suggested it was an attempted assassination.

“We are deeply saddened that independent media on social networks have published untruths about the incident, often portraying Mr. Milanés in a negative light. Manuel's courageous act in defending the family, as he preaches daily, deserves only respect and admiration,” the statement concluded.

The document, which did not contain any details about Milanés' current physical condition, was signed by Luis Perez, Wilfredo BeiraAnd Raul Rauizall members of the organization's board of directors. The Anti-Communist Warfare Council describes itself on its website as “a political-military organization created to work on social media inside and outside Cuban territory and to comply with the laws of other countries to achieve the liberation of Cuba from oppressive communist forces.”

The official statement on the incident confirms reports recently published by local US media and journalists such as Mario Vallejo. Local Sheriff Kevin Rambos identified the attacker, a 26-year-old named Hilberto Callejas. Rambosk noted that the altercation took place on Thursday at around 9 a.m. in the town mentioned Collier CountyFlorida, and stated that Milanés was shot in the shoulder. The shooter now faces several charges, including aggravated assault with a firearm, aggravated assault, shooting at an occupied vehicle and child abuse, among others.