Venezuela says Maduro safe after ‘failed attack’
CARACAS, Venezuela — A televised speech by President Nicolas Maduro was abruptly cut off Saturday, and military men were shown on the air running from what the government called a “failed attack” against the president that left seven soldiers wounded.
Maduro was unharmed and later Saturday blamed rightwing elements in Venezuela and Colombia, including the Colombian president. The attack created pandemonium when National Guardsmen, standing in formation, broke ranks and scattered in every direction.
During the president’s speech, which was broadcast live on state television, the camera began to shake. Maduro then looked into the air as his wife, Cilia Flores, flinched and reached for another official to brace herself.
The video feed cut off, but Maduro can be heard continuing to talk as voices in the background yelled for others to flee.
The video feed then showed figures dressed in black breaking through a barrier from the sidelines of a wide street where hundreds of uniformed guardsmen were arrayed in formation. The figures in black run toward the guardsmen, who abruptly flee in panic.
The transmission then cut off.
“Explosions were heard,” Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez said later on state TV. “Investigations show clearly that flying artifacts or drones containing explosive material exploded near the presidential stage.”
Photos of the incident published by China’s Xinhua News Service showed suited bodyguards jumping in front of Maduro with Kevlar shields, and one uniformed officer clutching a bleeding wound on his head.
“The event is evidence of desperation of ultraright leaders who, being defeated politically, continue to resort to criminal practices, and they have failed once again,” Rodriguez said.
He said Maduro was safe and in a meeting with his Cabinet and top military officials, and that the wounded men were being treated.
Firefighters at the scene, however, disputed the government’s account.
Three officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said it was actually a gas tank explosion in an apartment. Smoke could be seen spewing from a building window.
Venezuela’s government routinely accuses opposition activists of plotting to attack and overthrow Maduro, a deeply unpopular leader who was recently elected to a new term in office in a vote decried by dozens of nations. Maduro has steadily moved to concentrate power as the nation reels from a crippling economic crisis.
He addressed the nation nearly three hours after the attack, saying some of the “far right” plotters had been captured.
Maduro, addressing the nation just before 8 p.m., blamed right-wing elements in Venezuela and Colombia for the attack, and said President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia was also responsible.
“All the investigations point to Bogota,” he said, accompanied by his ministers and military high command. “They have tried to kill me today.”
“Already, the first investigations show that those intellectually and financially responsible for this attack live in the United States of North America, in Florida. I hope the government of Donald Trump is willing to combat terrorist groups that want to attack presidents of peaceful nations.”
He also said some of the “material authors” of the attack were in custody. He did not provide the names of those detained or describe the charges they are facing.
Attorney General Tarek William Saab said the attempted assassination targeted not only Maduro, but rather the military’s entire high command on stage with the president.
Prosecutors have already opened their investigation and obtained critical details from the suspects in custody, said Saab, adding that he would give more details Monday.
“We are in the midst of a wave of civil war in Venezuela,” Saab said.
Some of Maduro’s detractors suggested that Saturday’s attack could have been staged to stoke patriotism and buoy his flagging national support.
The incident nevertheless sent shock waves through Venezuela, a country already on edge. The South American nation is in the thick of a roiling political and economic crisis. With inflation spiraling toward 1 million percent and shortages of food and medicine growing more acute, dozens of officers and soldiers have been arrested by the government over alleged coup plots.
Adding to the confusion, a previously unknown group calling itself Soldiers in T-shirts claimed responsibility, saying it planned to fly two drones loaded with explosives at the president, but government soldiers shot them down before they reached the target. The Associated Press could not independently verify the authenticity of the message.
“We showed that they are vulnerable,” the tweet said. “It was not successful today, but it is just a matter of time.”
The organization did not respond to a message from The Associated Press seeking more information.
Early Saturday evening, U.S. officials hadn’t commented on the attack. But leaders friendly to Maduro offered their support and cast suspicion on foreign powers.
“We energetically repudiate this new aggression and cowardly attack,” said Evo Morales, Bolivia’s president and a fellow leftist. “After failed attempts to topple him democratically, economically, politically and militarily, now the empire and its servants try to take his life.”
That wasn’t the reaction of some residents who stood nearby as officials fled.
“Running like rats,” said a woman who filmed a video of the soldiers and officials fleeing on Saturday. “All of those fancy cars of the plugged-in elites trying to get away at the same time.”