Police copter fires on govt buildings, Prez vows action
4 grenades hurled at high court from helicopter, Maduro puts military on high alert
Caracas, June 28: In a dramatic escalation of the violence gripping Venezuela, a police helicopter attacked the Supreme Court and interior ministry. President Nicolas Maduro called it a thwarted terrorist attack aimed at ousting him from power. He has put the military on alert.
Branding the attack as part of an “escalation” by right-wing “coup” plotters, Mr Maduro said, “I have activated the entire armed forces to defend the peace.”
The confusing incident, which may ratchet up tensions in the oil-rich South American country already paralysed by months of deadly anti-government protests, took place as Mr Maduro was speaking live on state television Tuesday.
The President later said the helicopter had dropped grenades on the court, seen as pro-government, and bullets were fired at the interior ministry. No loss of life was reported.
Pictures of a blue police helicopter carrying an anti-government banner appeared on social media around the same time as a video in which an apparent police pilot and budding action movie actor, identified as Oscar Perez, called for a rebellion against Mr Maduro’s “tyranny.” He said he was part of a coalition of members of the country’s security forces.
Beyond his police work, Mr Perez has acted in a Venezuelan action film, Suspended Death, and has posted photographs on social media of himself posing with weapons.
“We are a coalition of military, police and civilian public servants... opposed to this transitional, criminal government,” said Mr Perez, flanked by four masked figures in black, two of them holding rifles.
The government named him as the author of the attack, saying he had stolen a police helicopter.
Mr Maduro has been fending off calls for elections from opponents who blame him for a desperate economic crisis that has sparked hunger and deadly violence.
I have activated the entire armed forces to defend the peace... Sooner or later, we are going to capture that helicopter — Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela President
Venezuela’s leader Nicolas Maduro put the military on alert on Wednesday against an alleged coup after a renegade police detective claimed responsibility for a grenade attack on the Supreme Court, demanding the embattled President quit.
Four grenades were hurled at the high court from a helicopter and bullets were fired at the interior ministry on Tuesday, Mr Maduro said, in a potentially dramatic escalation of the violence gripping the oil-rich South American country.
The attack was claimed in a video released online by a man identified by media and the government as 36-year-old Oscar Perez.
Beyond his police work, Perez has acted in a Venezuelan action film, Suspended Death, and has posted photographs on social media of himself posing with weapons.
“We are a coalition of military, police and civilian public servants... opposed to this transitional, criminal government,” said Perez, flanked by four masked figures in black, two of them holding rifles.
Mr Maduro has for months been fending off calls for elections to replace him, from opponents who blame him for a desperate economic crisis that has sparked hunger and deadly violence.
He so far retains the public backing of the military high command, a factor that analysts say is decisive if he is to remain in power. Venezuela has seen three attempted military coups since 1992. The government named Perez as the author of the attack, saying he had stolen a police helicopter. No one was hurt in the incidents, Maduro said.