Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro survives alleged drone assassination attempt

[Pitcher]

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro survives an assassination attempt by terrorists using an explosives-laden drone as he addresses the nation on TV - then blames Colombia and 'financiers' in the US

• Footage shows Maduro abruptly cutting short his speech before looking to sky
• Maduro's wife, Cilia Flores, was standing next to him at the time and jolted away 
• Thousands of soldiers then scatter as people scream and loud bangs are heard
• Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez said several drone devices had detonated
• He added that Maduro is safe and unharmed but that seven people were injured
• Maduro accused Colombia and unidentified US 'financiers' of being responsible  
• Other officials in Maduro's government blamed the Venezuelan opposition 

 

Seven national guards have been injured in Venezuela after a terrifying assassination attempt on President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday using an explosive-laden drone as he addressed the nation on live TV.

Footage broadcast by state television shows Maduro abruptly cutting short his speech before looking to the sky. Thousands of soldiers who were assembled in massed ranks then scatter as people scream amid the sounds of explosions.

Maduro's wife, Cilia Flores, was standing next to him at the time, and can be seen ducking away as officials erect a shield wall around the president. Images showed a bloodied soldier being carried away and smoking holes in nearby buildings.

Maduro accused neighboring Colombia and unidentified 'financiers' in the United States of being responsible for the attack, while some of his officials blamed Venezuela's opposition. 

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro reacts after hearing the multiple blasts in Caracas

President Maduro was mid-speech at an event to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the Bolivarian National Guard when a 'flying device' exploded right in front of him at 5.40pm.

 

The visibly shaken head of state said he saw a 'flying device' that exploded before his eyes. He thought it might be a pyrotechnics display in honor of the event.

Within seconds, Maduro said he heard a second explosion and pandemonium ensued. 

Bodyguards escorted Maduro out of the event and television footage shows uniformed soldiers standing in formation quickly scattering from the scene.

'It was an attack to kill me, they tried to assassinate me today,' Maduro said 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 the United States, while some of his officials blamed Venezuela's opposition.

Colombia denied any involvement. A senior Colombian official speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity said Maduro's accusation was 'baseless.'

 

Venezuelan state television images showed Maduro looking up disconcertedly in the middle of a speech Saturday when a bang was heard, then uniformed members of the country's National Guard lined up in the parade suddenly breaking ranks and scattering.

'To the conscious Venezuela, we are going to bet for the good of our country, the hour of the economic recovery has come and we need...' Mr Maduro was saying before the cameras moved away from him. 

He was standing next to his wife Cilia Flores and several high ranking military officials for the event broadcast on radio and television.

A video shows Ms Flores wince and look up after a sound. The soldiers lined up in ranks then begin running. The transmission was cut without explanation. 

Images being shared on social media showed officers surrounding Maduro with what appeared to be a black bullet-proof barrier as they escorted him from the site. 

A photograph also showed an injured military official clutching his bloody head and being held up by colleagues.      

The attack happened during an event celebrating the National Guard's 81st anniversary

Cameras captured the moment military officers standing at attention in neat lines broke rank and began running

Security personnel shield Maduro after the explosions, which came when he was addressing a celebration to mark the National Guard's 81st anniversary

 

Images showed a soldier with a bleeding head (pictured) being carried away and smoking holes in nearby buildings

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'This is an attack against President Nicolas Maduro,' Communication Minister Jorge Rodriguez said.

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.

Maduro 'came out of it completely unharmed,' he said.

The government pointed the finger at 'the ultra-right wing' -- its term for the opposition.

But Maduro said: 'I have no doubt that the name (Colombian President) Juan Manuel Santos is behind this attack.'

He added that initial investigations 'indicate that various of those financing it live in the United States, in the state of Florida. I hope that President Donald Trump is ready to fight these terrorist groups.'

 

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Smoke rises above the Caracas skyline after multiple drones reportedly detonated

Maduro (pictured moments before the blast) is reportedly unharmed

 

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6027507/Venezuelan-President-Nicolas-Maduro-survives-alleged-drone-assassination-attempt.html

[gregp]

And the drone attacks start!

[umbertino]

Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro survives apparent assassination attempt

 

President blames Colombia after apparent drone attack during speech in Caracas

 

 

Joe Parkin Daniels in Bogota, Mariana Zúñiga in Caracas and agencies

Sun 5 Aug 2018 02.33 BST First published on Sat 4 Aug 2018 23.59 BST

 

 

Vid

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/04/nicolas-maduros-speech-cut-short-while-soldiers-scatter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign powers, or hoax: who's behind Venezuela 'drone attack'?

 

President Nicolás Maduro has blamed an international cabal but observers are suspicious

 

 

Sun 5 Aug 2018 06.47 BST Last modified on Sun 5 Aug 2018 12.18 BST

By  Joe Parkin Daniels

 

 

 

 

Nicolás Maduro has accused the Colombian president and a network of plotters of trying to assassinate him

Photograph: Miraflores/EPA

 

 

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/05/foreign-powers-rebels-or-a-hoax-whos-behind-venezuela-drone-attack