Venezuela detains 6 for attack on Maduro
Investigators hunting for assailants behind a failed attempt to assassinate President Nicolas Maduro with explosivesladen drones have raided hotels and seized vehicles while grilling six suspects for details of the plot.
Venezuela’s socialist government alleged on Sunday that the detained suspects conspired with others in Miami and the capital of neighbouring Colombia, though they offered no specific evidence. Opposition leaders criticised Maduro for broadly singling out his political opponents, and they warned that he might use the attack to further suppress his critics.
Maduro and his allies called the attack direct proof that an international plot to overthrow his socialist administration exists, while also saying that the military’s response shows he still has the loyalty of Venezuela’s soldiers.
But analysts said the images broadcast live on television when the attack struck during a Maduro speech on Saturday made him appear vulnerable.
Interior minister Nestor Reverol said two drones, each packed with a kilogram of C-4 plastic explosive, were flown toward Maduro, his wife and other top leaders as the president spoke to hundreds of troops during an event celebrating the 81st anniversary of the National Guard. One of the drones was intended to explode above Maduro and the other was to detonate directly in front of him, Reverol said.
The military managed to knock one of the drones off course electronically and the other craft crashed into an apartment building two blocks away, Reverol said. “We have six terrorists and assassins detained,” he said. “In the next hours there could be more arrests.” AP