Maduro survives ‘drone’ attack

PRESIDENT BLAMES OUTGOING COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT FOR ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said he was “more determined than ever” after he escaped an “assassination” attempt using an explosive-laden drone as he gave a speech during a Caracas military parade.

The government said seven soldiers were wounded in the alleged attack on Saturday, blamed on Colombia by Maduro and later claimed by a mysterious rebel group.

“I am fine, I am alive, and after this attack I’m more determined than ever to follow the path of the revolution,” Maduro said defiantly of the incident, from which he escaped unharmed.

“Justice! Maximum punishment! And there will be no forgiveness,” he warned in an address to the nation, sparking fears of an anti-opposition offensive in a country already reportedly holding some 248 political prisoners.

Meanwhile, Attorney-General Tarek William Saab, also present at the parade, said those arrested in connection with the incident would be identified today.

“There will be a ruthless punishment,” he said.

Venezuelan state television images showed Maduro looking up disconcertedly in the middle of a speech having heard a bang, before members of the country’s National Guard lined up in the parade suddenly scattered.

“It was an attack to kill me, they tried to assassinate me today,” he said in a state broadcast, speaking of a “flying object [that] exploded in front of me.”

Communication Minister Jorge Rodriguez said there was “an explosive charge ... detonated close to the presidential podium” and in several other spots along the parade held in central Caracas. Saab told CNN he saw a drone filming the event explode.

No drones could be seen in the television broadcast, which showed bodyguards jumping in front of Maduro to protect him with flexible ballistic shields. The broadcast was quickly cut.

Meanwhile, a policeman who requested anonymity told AFP that drones may have been released from a nearby apartment that suffered a fire after one exploded.

However, other versions of events attributed the fire to the accidental explosion of a gas cylinder.

Maduro was quick to lay blame, saying: “I have no doubt that the name [outgoing Colombian President] Juan Manuel Santos is behind this attack.” – AFP