MIAMI, United States (AFP)—A United States-based man identified by Cuba as one of those killed by its coast guard in a shootout off the Cuban coast had spoken often of wanting to liberate the island, a political ally told AFP on Thursday.

Cuba has vowed to defend itself against “terrorist and mercenary” attacks after reporting it had killed four gunmen on a Florida-registered boat — an incident that added to deepening tensions between Havana and Washington.

Michel Ortega Casanova was identified by Cuba as one of four people killed on Wednesday, with Havana saying all on board were Cubans living in the United States.

“His goal was to go and fight against a criminal and murderous narco-tyrannical (government), to see if that would spark the people to rise up,” said Wilfredo Beyra, head of the Cuban Republican Party in Tampa.

“I had warned him that it was not the time to take such action for the freedom of Cuba, that he had to wait,” the head of the Florida-based opposition political organization told AFP by telephone.

Beyra, who had known Ortega Casanova for four or five years, said he last spoke to him about 10 days ago.

Ortega Casanova, reported to be a 54-year-old truck driver, had told him several times about his intentions.

“In Florida, several groups openly declare that they are willing, through military training, to fight for the freedom of their homeland. And Michel was part of one of those groups,” he said.

Ortega Casanova had spoken of taking action “at any moment,” Beyra said.

Beyra said he also knew one of the men identified by Havana as being wounded in the incident, Leordan Enrique Cruz Gomez, who he met at a political event in Miami last year.

They had stayed in touch via calls and text messages, Beyra said, with the last of those exchanged less than two weeks ago.