Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has brought new state charges against former Cuban President Raúl Castro.

The charges are about the 1996 shooting down of civilian planes.

The planes were flown by exiles based in Miami.

Uthmeier accused Castro, 95, of directing spies to enter the exile group Brothers to the Rescue.

He also accused Castro of ordering the attack on its planes.

The state charge of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder is based largely on a federal indictment announced in May.

It is unclear whether Castro will ever appear in a U.S. courtroom.

Uthmeier said the arrest warrant would limit Castro's ability to leave Cuba.

It would also block travel to any country with an extradition agreement with the U.S.

He admitted that Castro is an older man who probably does not want to come to Miami.

Uthmeier said he is ready to prosecute the case.

According to the state complaint, Castro gave final approval to shoot down the planes.

At the time, he was armed forces minister and first vice president.

Investigators said Cuban intelligence agents in the Wasp Network entered the exile group and reported flight plans.

On Feb. 24, 1996, three unarmed Cessna aircraft left Opa-Locka Airport.

Outside Cuban territorial waters, Cuban MiGs destroyed two of the planes with air-to-air missiles.

Four people were killed.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel called the earlier federal indictment a political stunt.

He said it was meant to justify military aggression against Cuba.

U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones said the federal indictment prepared the way for the new state charges.

Castro led Cuba from 2006 until 2018, when he handed power to Díaz-Canel.

He retired as head of the Communist Party in 2021.

But many people believe he still holds influence behind the scenes.