In Camagüey, a man was taken into custody following an incident where he stabbed a security guard during an attempted heist at the Santa Rosa market. This event was captured in a video shared on Facebook by journalist José Luis Tan Estrada, which has garnered over 4.7 million views and more than 356,000 likes.
The brief 16-second video captures the moment the attacker was apprehended. "A security worker at the Santa Rosa market in Camagüey was stabbed during an attempted robbery on Friday, October 30, around 4:00 PM," detailed the journalist.
Tan Estrada elaborated that the young man, "approximately 20 years old, entered the establishment intending to steal. Realizing what was happening, several workers locked the doors to prevent his escape. At that moment, the assailant attacked the security guard, described by the source as an elderly man, with a knife."
Rising Crime Rates in Camagüey
This incident is part of an ongoing rise in criminal activities in Camagüey. According to a municipal report for the first half of 2026, the provincial capital recorded over 600 offenses, with 40% involving "robbery with force, crimes against life, and cattle theft."
Knife attacks have become increasingly common in the city. In April 2026, a woman was critically injured in a knife attack near the Railroad Terminal during a bicycle robbery, marking the second violent assault in that area within a week.
Recurring Acts of Violence Across Cuba
In August, two knife-wielding individuals stole a motorbike near the Plaza de la Revolución; the police later recovered the vehicle. That same month, residents of the Previsora neighborhood captured a thief in a home's backyard due to the absence of police officers.
Security personnel at state facilities have frequently been targets during robberies throughout Cuba. In March 2025, Osmany Trujillo Guevara, aged 58, was shot and killed while trying to prevent a robbery at a warehouse in the Esmeralda municipality, also in Camagüey.
In Las Tunas, on August 24, 2026, a security guard was killed and another worker injured during an assault on the bicycle parking area of the Ernesto Guevara General Teaching Hospital; three young men were arrested weeks later in connection with the case.
Mid-October saw the arrest of three individuals in Santiago de Cuba after they robbed a fiber cement factory and attacked its guard, a pattern seen across various provinces in the country.
The Role of Social Media in Exposing Crime
Facebook has emerged as the primary platform for citizens in Cuba to report criminal activities, given the limited or nonexistent coverage state media provides on violence and insecurity. The video from the Camagüey market exemplifies how the public turns to social networks and independent communicators to bring attention to a reality that the communist regime prefers to keep under wraps.
Understanding Crime and Security Issues in Camagüey
What led to the arrest of the robber in Camagüey?
The robber was apprehended after stabbing a security guard during an attempted robbery at the Santa Rosa market. The situation was contained when workers locked the doors to prevent his escape.
How is social media impacting crime reporting in Cuba?
Social media, particularly Facebook, has become a vital tool for Cubans to report crimes, as state media often neglects covering issues of violence and insecurity.