The vessel arrived in the Cuban capital with armaments and ammunition acquired in Western Europe by the emerging Revolution to defend itself against the increasing aggressions from the United States.

Determined to liquidate the transforming process that had begun in Cuba on January 1, 1959, the US Government stimulated internal subversion through covert actions by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and threats of aggression that materialized a year later.

A first explosion occurred when port workers were unloading the merchandise, and a second one took place while other people were helping those affected.

On March 5, the day after the events, Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro showed proof of the US Government’s involvement in the crime. For the first time, he pronounced the slogan that, since that day, has accompanied the Cuban revolutionary process: “Homeland or Death.”

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