Helicopter attacks Supreme Court
CARACAS: A Venezuelan police helicopter attacked the Supreme Court yesterday, ratcheting up a political crisis in what President Nicolas Maduro condemned as a “terrorist” attack.
The 54-year-old socialist leader, who has faced three months of opposition protests as well as dissent from within government, said the helicopter’s occupants shot at the judicial building and threw some grenades.
Witnesses reported hearing several detonations in downtown Caracas, where the proMaduro Supreme Court, the presidential palace and other key government buildings are located.
The helicopter flew over the Interior Ministry, Maduro said.
“Sooner rather than later we are going to capture the helicopter and those behind this armed terrorist attack against the institutions of the country,” he said.
The Supreme Court is particularly hated by Maduro’s opponents for its string of rulings bolstering his power and undermining the opposition-controlled legislature.
“There was a social activity going on in the Supreme Court. They could have caused dozens of deaths,” Maduro said of the helicopter attack.
Opposition leaders have long been calling on Venezuela’s security forces to stop obeying a president they call a murderous dictator.
But there was also some speculation on social media among opposition supporters that the helicopter attack could have been staged to justify repression or cover up drama at Venezuela’s National Assembly, where two dozen lawmakers said they were being besieged by pro-government gangs.
Earlier yesterday, Maduro warned that he and supporters would take up arms if his socialist government was violently overthrown by opponents who had been on the streets since April. – Reuters