In a dramatic incident captured on live tv the Venezuelan President Nicolaacutes Maduro is said to have survived an alleged drone assassination attempt
CARACAS, Venezuela – In a dramatic incident captured on live television, the Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is said to have survived an alleged “drone assassination attempt” while addressing a military event in Caracas on Saturday.
Live footage from Maduro’s speech at an event to mark the 81st anniversary of the national army shows the president being startled as he suddenly looks upwards and dozens of soldiers are seen running away.
Following the alleged attack, Venezuela’s Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez said that two drones loaded with explosives went off near the president’s stand.
Further, Venezuelan authorities have said that seven soldiers were injured, and several people were later arrested.
Rodriguez described the incident as an attempted hit job on the socialist leader and said in a brief televised appearance after the event, “This is an attack against President Nicolas Maduro. All of the work we have done immediately after has allowed us to establish with evidence that it was an assassination attempt. Whoever carried out this attack failed.”
In a national address delivered later, Maduro claimed that he had survived an assassination attempt involving explosive drones.
Maduro said, « A flying object exploded near me, a big explosion. Seconds later there was a second explosion. I am fine, I am alive, and after this attack I’m more determined than ever to follow the path of the revolution.”
Prompting fears of a new crackdown, Maduro then said, « Justice! Maximum punishment! And there will be no forgiveness. »
He then went on to accuse neighbouring Colombia and elements within the U. S. of instigating « a right-wing plot » to kill him.
The Venezuelan President added that he had « no doubt » Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos was « behind this attack.”
While Maduro provided no evidence to back his claim, Bogota denied it as a « baseless » accusation.
The Colombian government denied any involvement and said there is « no basis » to Maduro’s allegations.
He also added that initial investigations “indicate that various of those financing it live in the United States, in the state of Florida.”
Maduro claimed, “I hope that President Donald Trump is ready to fight these terrorist groups.”
Later in the day, U. S. National Security Adviser John Bolton denied any U. S. involvement in the incident.
Bolton added that it could be « a pretext set up by the regime itself.”
The Venezuelan government has also blamed the opposition, even though many opposition leaders have already left the country citing government harassment.
Reports claimed that currently, there are more than 200 political prisoners in Venezuela’s jails.
Late on Saturday, a mysterious rebel group made up of Venezuelan civilians and military claimed responsibility for the « assassination » attempt on Maduro.
According to a statement posted on social media, the attack was claimed by a group calling itself the « National Movement of Soldiers in Shirts. »
In a statement passed to U. S.-based opposition journalist Patricia Poleo, the group said, « It is contrary to military honor to keep in government those who not only have forgotten the Constitution but who have also made public office an obscene way to get rich.
The statement added, “If the purpose of a government is to achieve the greatest amount of happiness possible, we cannot tolerate that the population is suffering from hunger, that the sick do not have medicine, that the currency has no value, or that the education system neither educates or teaches, only indoctrinating communism. People of Venezuela, to successfully complete this emancipatory struggle, we have to take to the streets, without going back. »
The group also posted on Twitter and said that it was made up of « patriotic military personnel and civilians loyal to the Venezuelan people who seek to rescue the democracy of a nation under dictatorship. »
On Sunday, the country’s Interior Minister said that six « terrorists and hired killers » had been arrested over their alleged involvement, after several hotels were raided and many vehicles were seized.
Investigators reportedly searched a blackened apartment building, where witnesses described seeing a drone and then hearing a thunderous explosion.
