Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro claims to have narrowly escaped an assassination attempt.
While Maduro was giving a speech, reports of low-flying exploding drones caused massive panic.
According to President Maduro’s camp, this was an unsuccessful attempt on his life.
Contradictory Reports
Video of the “attack” clearly shows the president and his first lady glancing skyward with the explosion being heard in the background:
#Ahora la cadena nacional del presidente Nicolás Maduro fue interrumpida. El audio del mandatario fue cortado y luego se observó a militares corriendo de forma desordenada. pic.twitter.com/S14NDGDeXi
— Efecto Cocuyo (@EfectoCocuyo) August 4, 2018
As soon as the explosion happened, Maduro was surrounded by aides with what we assume were bulletproof shields.
He was then ushered off stage to safety.
While his camp is holding firm that it was a drone attack, the local fire department disagrees.
According to those officials, a gas cylinder at a nearby apartment building exploded.
UPDATE: Three different officials from the fire department in Caracas told AP that the cause of the explosion was a gas cylinder that exploded, disputing the government official statement that it was an attempted assassination attempt on President Maduro. pic.twitter.com/Yn44ISw8EN
— News_Executive (@News_Executive) August 5, 2018
If that were the case, it is very reasonable projectiles would have been flying from the explosion, giving the appearance of “low flying drones.”
Blame It on the Right
President Maduro took no time at all to blame the attack on right-wing extremists.
One party leader, Diosdado Cabello, said: “The right insists on violence to take public spaces that they can’t win with votes.”
To add to the assassination attempt narrative, a group called “Soldiers in T Shirts” claimed responsibility for the alleged drone attack.
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They stated that although this attack was unsuccessful, they proved he is vulnerable to attack.
The tweet also hinted they would be trying again soon, calling it, “just a matter of time.”
