Crackdown feared after alleged drone attack
VENEZUELA - Venezuela’s opposition has warned that President Nicolás Maduro may launch a political crackdown after he accused adversaries of attempting to assassinate him with drones loaded with explosives.
State television on Saturday evening showed Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, looking up at the sky and wincing after hearing the sound of an explosion midway through a speech he was giving at a military parade in Caracas. Seconds later, the footage panned to hundreds of soldiers chaotically scurrying out of formation and running away before the television feed was cut. Seven people were injured, the country’s information minister, Jorge Rodríguez, said. “The investigation clearly reveals came from drone-like devices that carried explosives,” he told reporters. Authorities have said that six people have been arrested over the incident. Venezuela’s defence minister claimed those behind the alleged attack were aiming to decapitate the government’s entire top leadership along with Maduro. Of the six arrested, interior minister Nestor Reverol said two had previously been detained in street protests. Venezuela has been periodically rocked by demonstrations over shortages of food and medical supplies that officials claim incite violence. Although witnesses confirmed seeing at least one drone that appeared to be linked to an explosion, exactly what happened still remained unclear.
(The Guardian)