Maduro denounces ‘coup bid’ as renegade pilot drops grenades on interior ministry
Caracas — A Venezuelan police helicopter strafed the country’s supreme court and a government ministry on Tuesday, escalating the oil cartel Opec nation’s political crisis in what President Nicolás Maduro called an attack by "terrorists" seeking a coup. The aircraft fired 15 shots at the interior ministry, where scores of people were at a social event, and dropped four grenades on the court, where judges were meeting, officials said. However, there were no reports of injuries. "Sooner rather than later, we are going to capture the helicopter and those behind this armed terrorist attack against the institutions of the country," Maduro said. "They could have caused dozens of deaths." The 54-year-old socialist leader has faced three months of protests from opposition leaders who decry him as a dictator who has wrecked a once-prosperous economy. There has been growing dissent, too, from within government and the security forces. At least 75 people have died, and hundreds more injured an...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.