16 US staff hurt in Cuba embassy 'acoustic attack'

Late last year US embassy staff and at least one Canadian began to feel the effects of what Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called a "health attack."

Washington, August 24: In what has previously been dubbed an 'acoustic attack' on the US mission in Cuba, no fewer than 16 Americans were hurt, the State Department said on Friday.

Spokeswoman Heather Nauert told reporters that the attacks appear to have ceased, but that several US government employees required treatment.

"We can confirm that at least 16 US government employees, members of our embassy community, have experienced some kind of symptoms," she said.

Late last year US embassy staff and at least one Canadian began to feel the effects of what Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called a "health attack."

US officials have said those hurt appeared to have been targeted by some form of acoustic weapon, in what Nauert has called an "unprecedented" incident.

No details of the injuries have been released, but a report on CBS News suggested at least one victim suffered what amounted to "brain damage."

"We take the situation extremely seriously," Nauert said, after revealing the new casualty toll.

The United States as well as US medics in Cuba provided medical treatment to the victims and some of whom have been withdrawn from Cuba.

PTI