'Rogue' faction of Cuban security forces might be behind the sonic attacks on American diplomats in Havana

Raul Castro
(Image credit: Jorge Beltran/Getty Images)

Cuban President Raul Castro expressed concern and confusion over ongoing, sophisticated sonic attacks on American diplomats living in Havana, going as far as to invite FBI agents to the country to investigate, The Associated Press reports. The extremely rare gesture — and lack of an "indignant, how-dare-you-accuse-us response" — has led American authorities to believe Castro might not be responsible, and that a "rogue faction of Cuba's security forces" could be to blame, AP writes.

The futuristic attacks began last fall when U.S. diplomats mysteriously started to lose their hearing. The U.S. launched an investigation and determined that the diplomats had been attacked by a weapon that operated outside the range of audible sound and was covertly placed either inside or outside their homes. This spring, Canadian diplomats reported similar symptoms: nosebleeds, nausea, headaches. Because Canada and Cuba are on friendly terms, the attack was befuddling — American authorities believe it might have been an attempt to throw off investigators.

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.