Cuba: 5 March 1960: Memorial service march for victims of the La Coubre explosion in Havana. On the far left of the photo is Fidel Castro, while in the center is Che Guevara.

The freighter La Coubre exploded at 3:10 p.m. on 4 March 1960, while it was being unloaded in Havana harbour, Cuba. This 4,310-ton French vessel was carrying 76 tons of Belgian munitions from the port of Antwerp. Unloading explosive ordnance directly onto the dock was against port regulations. Ships with such cargoes were supposed to be moored in the center of the harbor and their high-risk cargo unloaded onto lighters.

The explosion is often attributed to the CIA who wished to overthrow the new government of Fidel Castro. The relevant files in the USA are currently sealed under a 150-year embargo.

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Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

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Pictures From History

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REVOLUTIONARY CUBA