CARACAS – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Saturday he escaped an”assassination” attempt using an explosive-laden drone, after a livebroadcast showed him looking confused when a bang went off during a Caracasmilitary parade and dozens of soldiers scuttling for safety.
His government said seven soldiers were wounded in the incident.
“It was an attack to kill me, they tried to assassinate me today,” Madurosaid in a later state broadcast, speaking of a “flying object (that)exploded in front of me.”
He said some of those involved were arrested and an investigation under way.
Maduro accused neighboring Colombia and unidentified “financiers” in theUnited States, while some of his officials blamed Venezuela´s opposition.
Colombia denied any involvement. A senior Colombian official speaking toAFP on condition of anonymity said Maduro´s accusation was “baseless.”
Venezuelan state television images showed Maduro looking up disconcertedlyin the middle of a speech Saturday when a bang was heard, then uniformedmembers of the country´s National Guard lined up in the parade suddenlybreaking ranks and scattering.
No drones could be seen in the television broadcast, which showedbodyguards jumping in front of Maduro to protect him with flexibleballistic shields. The broadcast was quickly cut.
“This is an attack against President Nicolas Maduro,” CommunicationMinister Jorge Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said there was “an explosive charge… detonated close to thepresidential podium” and in several other spots along the parade held incentral Caracas.
Maduro “came out of it completely unharmed,” he said.
The government pointed the finger at “the ultra-right wing” — its term forthe opposition.
But Maduro said: “I have no doubt that the name (Colombian President) JuanManuel Santos is behind this attack.”
He added that initial investigations “indicate that various of thosefinancing it live in the United States, in the state of Florida. I hopethat President Donald Trump is ready to fight these terrorist groups.” -APP/AFP