Attack on School Officials in Havana Sparks Concerns Over Safety in Cuban Educational Institutions

An alarming incident involving a violent attack on the principal of the Arístides Viera González Urban Pre-University Institute in Playa, Havana, has raised significant concerns about the security in Cuban educational centers. This event took place on Wednesday morning and was detailed in an audio recording shared on social media by a tenth-grade teacher from the school, who also suffered injuries during the attack.

According to the teacher's account, two young men, aged 20 and 21, who are not affiliated with the school, attempted to enter the institution early in the day. The security personnel, responsible for monitoring the premises, identified them as outsiders and denied them access. However, the rejection did not deter them. They soon returned wearing school uniforms, enabling them to blend in with the students and bypass the school's security.

Once inside, the intruders made their way to a twelfth-grade classroom, where their presence was noticed by the class teacher. Upon being discovered, they fled, creating a chaotic situation. "They caused a significant disturbance in the school," the teacher reported.

Escalating Violence Against School Staff

The situation intensified when the teacher, alerted by the twelfth-grade teacher, tried to apprehend the young men as they attempted to escape. "When I spotted them, they started running. I managed to catch one, who attacked me, but I quickly restrained him. I couldn't do more," the teacher recounted. At that moment, the second intruder approached and began assaulting the teacher, targeting his head, back, and other areas.

The incident escalated into a brawl involving several students and ultimately, the school's principal. In an effort to restore order, the principal intervened but was also violently attacked by the intruders. "They also hit the principal," the teacher confirmed.

Both attackers appeared to be intoxicated and possibly under the influence of other substances, according to the teacher's observations. Despite the severity of the situation, the educational process continued uninterrupted. The security team arrived and apprehended the attackers.

Following the incident, the teacher and principal, who bore the brunt of the assault, proceeded to the police station at 3rd and 110 in the same municipality to formally report the attackers. Another source connected to the school suggested that the attack might be linked to issues of drug trafficking or consumption. "That school has serious drug problems, and the two young men who assaulted the principal went there to demand something," an anonymous witness stated.

Addressing Safety and Drug Issues in Schools

As of now, there has been no official statement from the Ministry of Education or local authorities. However, the gravity of the incident underscores the urgent need to strengthen security measures in schools and seriously address the issues of drug use and trafficking affecting students and young people in general.

This situation also prompts a discussion on preparing school administrators and teachers to handle violent situations in educational settings and the institutional response to such attacks. The Arístides Viera González Institute, located at 31 A No. 1805, between 18 and 20, in the Kohly neighborhood of Havana, was originally a convent of the Ursuline order. During the 1970s and 1980s, it served as the school for the then-Soviet Embassy in Cuba.