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==Controversy==
==Controversy==
{{quote

|text="Ultimately those responsible for this attack are those in the dictatorship because they have closed all the democratic and peaceful solutions to reach agreements. No-one wants to meet with them, no-one believes what they say."
|author=[[Omar Lares]]|source=''[[The Guardian]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/09/venezuela-maduro-opposition-assassination-claim|title=Venezuela: Maduro critic rejects 'absurd' claim he plotted to kill president|website=The Guardian|accessdate=August 10, 2018}}</ref>
}}
According to initial reports after the explosion, the [[Associated Press]] stated that firefighters attended the scene and claimed that a gas tank located in the Don Eduardo apartment block had exploded during the rally, the explosion caught part of the building on fire and had to be put out.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.apnews.com/db760dac560840309cd320648ba12c9a/The-Latest:-Venezuelan-firefighters-dispute-official-version|title=The Latest: Expert says Maduro may use attack for purge|publisher=|accessdate=August 6, 2018}}</ref> An independent investigation by [[NGO]] [[Control Ciudadano]] did conclude, in regards to drone explosions, that "[t]he nearby building explosion was coincidental."<ref name="theguardian1" /> ''[[Efecto Cocuyo]]'' visited the building and reported that all apartments received piped gas, which does not require gas tanks. They could not say if there was also a gas tank.<ref>{{cite news|title=Un dron, una bombona, una onda expansiva: Lo que se conoce sobre el atentado fallido del #4Ago|url=http://efectococuyo.com/principales/un-dron-una-bombona-una-ola-expansiva-lo-que-se-conoce-sobre-el-atentado-fallido-del-4ago/|date=August 5, 2018|accessdate=August 5, 2018|language=es|work=[[Efecto Cocuyo]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pjmedia.com/trending/was-the-maduro-assassination-attempt-a-false-flag-operation/|title=Was the Maduro Assassination Attempt a 'False Flag' Operation?|last=Moran|first=Rick|date=August 5, 2018|website=PJMedia|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=}}</ref> Video later provided by [[Telemundo]] did indeed appear to show a drone crash into the side of the apartment building.<ref name=":1" /> Days after the event, [[Bellingcat]]'s investigation stated that the report by firefighters was an "early narrative" and that a "second drone crashed and exploded [...] and is the most likely cause of the fire which the Venezuelan firefighters described".<ref name=":5" />
According to initial reports after the explosion, the [[Associated Press]] stated that firefighters attended the scene and claimed that a gas tank located in the Don Eduardo apartment block had exploded during the rally, the explosion caught part of the building on fire and had to be put out.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.apnews.com/db760dac560840309cd320648ba12c9a/The-Latest:-Venezuelan-firefighters-dispute-official-version|title=The Latest: Expert says Maduro may use attack for purge|publisher=|accessdate=August 6, 2018}}</ref> An independent investigation by [[NGO]] [[Control Ciudadano]] did conclude, in regards to drone explosions, that "[t]he nearby building explosion was coincidental."<ref name="theguardian1" /> ''[[Efecto Cocuyo]]'' visited the building and reported that all apartments received piped gas, which does not require gas tanks. They could not say if there was also a gas tank.<ref>{{cite news|title=Un dron, una bombona, una onda expansiva: Lo que se conoce sobre el atentado fallido del #4Ago|url=http://efectococuyo.com/principales/un-dron-una-bombona-una-ola-expansiva-lo-que-se-conoce-sobre-el-atentado-fallido-del-4ago/|date=August 5, 2018|accessdate=August 5, 2018|language=es|work=[[Efecto Cocuyo]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pjmedia.com/trending/was-the-maduro-assassination-attempt-a-false-flag-operation/|title=Was the Maduro Assassination Attempt a 'False Flag' Operation?|last=Moran|first=Rick|date=August 5, 2018|website=PJMedia|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=}}</ref> Video later provided by [[Telemundo]] did indeed appear to show a drone crash into the side of the apartment building.<ref name=":1" /> Days after the event, [[Bellingcat]]'s investigation stated that the report by firefighters was an "early narrative" and that a "second drone crashed and exploded [...] and is the most likely cause of the fire which the Venezuelan firefighters described".<ref name=":5" />


Revision as of 00:12, 10 August 2018

Caracas drone explosions
Part of the crisis in Venezuela (2012–present)
Top to bottom:
President Maduro being shielded.
Venezuelan troops retreating from the area.
Maduro's speech stage following the explosions.
2018 Caracas drone attack is located in Central Caracas
President Maduro
President Maduro
Don Eduardo
Don Eduardo
2018 Caracas drone attack (Central Caracas)
2018 Caracas drone attack is located in Caracas
President Maduro
President Maduro
Don Eduardo
Don Eduardo
2018 Caracas drone attack (Caracas)
2018 Caracas drone attack is located in Venezuela
President Maduro
President Maduro
Don Eduardo
Don Eduardo
2018 Caracas drone attack (Venezuela)
LocationNear Avenida Bolívar, Caracas, Venezuela
Date4 August 2018
5:41 p.m (VST UTC −04:00)
Attack type
Drone attack (alleged)
Weapons2–3 DJI M600 drones
Deaths0
Injured8–9 (7–8 military, 1 civilian)
Accused(see list)
Chargestreason, aggravated homicide, attempted assassination of Head of State, inciting a riot, launching an explosive, terrorism, violent damage of property, conspiracy to commit a crime, financing terrorism[1]
Crisis in Venezuela
Causes
Effects
Events
Elections
Protests
Timeline
Armed violence
flag Venezuela portal

On 4 August 2018, at least two drones detonated explosives near Avenida Bolívar, Caracas, where Nicolás Maduro, the President of Venezuela, was addressing the Bolivarian National Guard from in front of the Centro Simón Bolívar Towers.[2][3][4] Maduro claimed he was targeted in an assassination attempt, though the cause and intention of the explosions is debated.[5][6] Skeptics suggested the incident was a false flag operation designed by the government to justify repression of opposition in Venezuela.[7][8][9]

Incident

External videos
video icon Report describing the incident, (1:37), Al Jazeera

Sources reported that drones carrying explosives attempted to attack President Maduro and other government officials. It occurred in the middle of a speech he was giving commemorating the Bolivarian National Guard's 81st anniversary.[10] The first drone hovered over Avenida Bolivar, detonating in the air over National Guardsmen standing in ranks.[11][12] It was reported that seven National Guard officers involved in the parade were injured and treated in hospital, other sources later claim it was eight.[10][13][14][15][16] After the explosion, bodyguards immediately protected Maduro with ballistic shields. Maduro, his wife Cilia Flores, and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, who were standing next to him, left the scene unharmed.[4] A second explosion was then heard seconds later – hundreds of National Guardsmen fled the area, abandoning President Maduro,[17][18] and the broadcast of the event was cut.[4] Despite the images of National Guardsmen fleeing the scene that were broadcast to the public, Minister of Communication Jorge Rodríguez falsely stated that the troops maintained their ranks in the parade.[17]

Another drone seen in the area crashed into the Don Eduardo apartment block, reportedly located two blocks from where Maduro was speaking.[19][20] According to The Guardian, local journalists and residents shared images of smoke appearing from the apartment building's windows shortly after the incident.[21] A woman living in the building said that a drone had crashed into one of the building's windows, injuring a girl who was taken to hospital.[22]

Video footage shows two drones: amateur video of one drone exploding, the video showing few people in the area, and another video recorded by Telemundo cameraman Cesar Saavedra of a drone hitting the Don Eduardo apartment building.[19][23]

Many members of the press were arrested immediately after the incident, preventing independent investigations and reporting.[24] Reporters from VIVOplay and TVVenezuela were detained by National Guardsmen shortly after the incident.[25]

Investigation

Government investigations

Initial investigations

Interior minister Néstor Reverol sharing information surrounding the incidents

In a televised address to the nation two hours after the incident, Maduro stated that an investigation had been opened immediately and a number of those connected to the attack had been apprehended and charged.[10] Six were initially arrested within hours of the incident,[26] which later increased to seven.[27] Reportedly, one of these was known to authorities because of his involvement in the 2014 protests, whilst another had an arrest warrant out for apparently taking part in the assault on Fort Paramacay [es].[28]

President Maduro also laid blame on extreme right-wing elements in his own country acting together with extreme right-wing elements in neighbouring Colombia, and specifically named Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos as being behind the incident. A spokesperson for President Santos promptly denied the accusations.[3] Maduro also suggested that Venezuelan exiles in the United States, particularly Miami, Florida, may have been involved.[3][20]

According to Interior Minister Néstor Reverol only two DJI M600 drones were used,[29] though Minister of Communication Jorge Rodríguez said that there were three drones used during the incident,[29] and the reason they failed to reach their target was that radio inhibitors made them lose signal.[30] Police at the scene had previously said that authorities shot down a drone.[31] Following a brief initial two-day investigation, Reverol presented its findings and explained that the two drones he claimed were involved were loaded with over 4lb combined of plastic explosive C4 elements, and that one was to be exploded above Maduro's head with the other intended to explode directly in front of the President.[20]

On 6 August 2018, Prosecutor General of Venezuela, Tarek William Saab, announced that two individuals described to be the alleged pilots were arrested and "will be charged with the crimes of treason and intentional homicide" in addition to other crimes.[32]

Investigation following arrests

Shortly after midnight VST on the morning of Tuesday, 7 August, Maduro said that he had "hard evidence" of "the Colombian oligarchy" planning the assassination, and that he would share it "in the next few hours".[33][34] Maduro announced in a video at the same time that they now knew that the perpetrators were trained in Chinácota in Norte de Santander, Colombia, an area which borders the north of Venezuela.[35][better source needed] No report had surfaced by the afternoon.

In the evening, Maduro gave a two-hour television presentation from Miraflores Palace[36] which included a partially-censored video of a former Venezuelan security official, who said he was one of the "bombers", giving a statement blaming Julio Borges and Juan Requesens. President Maduro directly accused opposition leaders Borges and Requesens of being behind the incident, also saying that Borges lived in a mansion in Bogotá that the outgoing Colombian government paid for, though no details of his "alleged role" were revealed.[36][37][38] During this time, agents belonging to SEBIN, Venezuela's intelligence agency, arrested Requesens and his sister, student leader Rafaela, though the latter was later released.[39][40] The man in the video claimed Requesens told him "to kill the President".[41] As members of the Venezuelan National Assembly, Borges and Requesens received diplomatic immunity. However, Diosdado Cabello, president of the disparate Constituent National Assembly, said he would "introduce legislation" to strip them of the protections.[36][42]

In response to the accusations, Borges tweeted a statement from Bogotá telling Maduro that he was "not fooling anybody", calling the supposed attack a "farce" that Maduro "staged to justify the persecution of opponents".[42] Cabello responded to this, telling him to "go find some good lawyers".[41]

Maduro's evening presentation claimed that everyone involved in the attack was offered $50 million USD as well as residency of the United States.[41] He also said that they had planned an attack on 5 July, which was postponed due to the drones not arriving on time.[41] Two of those who were arrested and named by Maduro as being involved and providing evidence were a Colombian, Rayder Russo, who was accused of being a planner and financier of the alleged attack, and an American, Osman Delgado, who was accused of being another financier.[35][better source needed] Both Russo and Delgado were known by the Venezuelan resistance to be informants loyal to Maduro, with rebel leader Óscar Pérez previously revealing that the two were "moles" selling information to the Bolivarian government in December 2017.[43]

On Wednesday, 8 August, Saab said that investigators had so far connected nineteen people to the attack, and three had already been charged.[41][42] Maduro also named wanted individuals living in Colombia and the US state of Florida, saying he wanted cooperation from these two nations and that he "[trusts] in the good faith of Donald Trump".[36] On Thursday, 9 August, Reverol said that 25 people were under investigation, and Efecto Cocuyo reported that eight had been detained.[44][45]

Seized property

One announcement of alleged perpetrators by Reverol on Thursday, 9 August, included details of several properties that the investigation had seized. They were owned by Osman Delgado, who is accused of helping to finance the attack. Two cars and an apartment in his name were also seized and raided.[44]

Independent investigations

A DJI M600 of the Peruvian Air Force, similar to the drone used during the incident

Citizen journalism organization Bellingcat stated that two drones "likely" armed with explosives were involved and that "[d]espite apparent claims from one group, it is not possible to accurately attribute this apparent attack without further information".[46]

An informal investigative report by a South American political commentator that followed similar analysis to Bellingcat also came to an uncertain conclusion, but rated the Maduro government staging the incident as a "1/3" chance and more likely than a "1/10" assassination attempt, saying that "[f]ar too much doesn't add up".[47]

One early independent investigation by NGO Control Ciudadano alternatively claimed that "at least one drone belonged to the military", and that a drone was "shot", blaming the government but indicating that it would be unintentional.[3]

Responsibility claims

A group named Soldados de Franelas ("T-shirt Soldiers") claimed responsibility for the attack on Twitter.[12][48] Another group, called Operación Fénix ("Operation Phoenix"), made vague claims on Twitter, accusing the Maduro government of being involved in drug trafficking and stating that they sought to restore democracy in Venezuela.[17] Three hours after the attack, Venezuelan journalist Patricia Poleo read a press release on her own YouTube channel from Miami, saying that militants from the Fénix group claimed the attack.[49] Different sources have variously claimed both groups as having connections to the Venezuelan rebel leader Óscar Pérez, who had been killed by Venezuelan government armed forces in the El Junquito raid.[18][21]

Salvatore Lucchese, a former Chief of Police of San Diego Municipality, Carabobo and former member of the Popular Will opposition party, claimed in an interview with Reuters in Bogotá that he largely organized the events, adding that the "armed struggle" would continue and "no dictator leaves power peacefully".[50] On the evening of 7 August, Maduro acknowledged this claim, telling the people in his two-hour national broadcast that "[a] former police boss of the Venezuelan right has been claiming responsibility for leading the attack. Today he was a special guest at the swearing-in of Colombia's incoming president".[51]

Alleged Perpetrators

File:Reverol shares Wanted images of Caracas drone suspects.jpg
Reverol sharing the details of the suspects

Maduro and Reverol released the names of wanted people that informants named as committing the attack. The full names and photos of these people were released on wanted posters in Venezuela. El Nacional reported fifteen names on the afternoon of Thursday, 9 August. Diario Panorama and other news sources reported the addition of more names before the end of the day. They are:[52][53][54][44]

  • Indirectly responsible (training, financing, planning)
    • "Bons" Juan Carlos Monasterios Vanegas, a retired sergeant
    • Mauricio Jimenez Pinzon, a Colombian immigration official
    • Oswaldo Valentín García Palomo, a retired colonel of the National Guard
    • "Pico" Rayder Alexander Russo Marquez
    • "Latino" Gregorio José Yaguas Monje
    • Osman Alexis Delgado Tabosky
    • "El Pastor" Gilbert Alberto Escalona Torrealba
    • Alcira Marina Carrizo de Colmenares
    • "Génesis" Virginia Antonieta Da Silva-Pio Porta
    • Thais del Carmen Valeria Viloria
    • Darwin Mina Banguera
    • Elvis Arnaldo Rivas Barrios
    • David Alexander Beaumont Álvarez
    • Julio Borges
    • Juan Requesens
  • Group "Alfa", operating drone from Curamichate
    • "Zamurito" José Miguel Estrada González
    • "Ingeniero" Argenis Valero Ruíz
    • "Morfeo" Henryberth Emmanuel Rivas Vivas
    • "Porto" Alberto José Bracho Rozquez
    • Emilendris Carolina Benítez Rosales
    • Yolmer Alberto Escalona Torrealba
  • Group "Bravo", operating drone from the Cipreses business center
    • "María" Yanin Fabiana Pernía
    • "Poeta" Brayan De Jesús Oropeza Ruiz

Reactions

Domestic

Press release from the Venezuelan Constituent National Assembly

The Venezuelan government referred to the incident as a "terrorist attack".[55] A press release from the Venezuelan Constituent National Assembly, written by Diosdado Cabello, said that they "fiercely condemn the vile and cowardly attack against the constitutional President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela" and that the "act of terrorism shows the hopelessness and frustration of the fascist right", also expressing solidarity with "the patriotic soldiers who were injured".[56] The opposition party in Venezuela, Frente Amplio Venezuela Libre ("Venezuelan Liberation Front"), expressed confusion as to the nature of the incident, saying that they can't know if it was "an attack, a fortuitous accident, or any of the other stories being shared on social media".[57]

The governor of the state of Carabobo, Rafael Lacava [es], tweeted a statement of politico-military rhetoric saying that "those who commit violence and attacks against the peace of this country will be defeated a thousand times by the true people", also saying that Maduro "knows he has the support of millions".[58]

Two days after the explosions, on Monday 6 August, supporters of Maduro rallied in downtown Caracas, waving flags and with painted faces. However, Reuters reporters on the scene said that there were only a few hundred people, most of whom were government workers, and with several telling the journalists that they had been instructed to attend to support Maduro's image.[59]

There was immediate outcry among the opposition in the nation after Cabello incited a move to strip supposed plotters and National Assemblymen Julio Borges and Juan Requesens of their diplomatic immunity. The National Assembly Vice President Julio César Reyes [es] spoke out against the move, saying that the "constitution is clear" and "only the Supreme Court of Justice has the authority to order a deputy's arrest, with congressional approval".[42]

International

The Union of South American Nations and various Latin American nations – including Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua, and El Salvador's Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) – condemned the attack and expressed solidarity,[60][better source needed][61] as did notable Latin American and international personalities including the former Cuban President Raúl Castro, FARC's Rodrigo Londoño, former footballer Diego Maradona, former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, noted sociologist Atilio Borón, and Evo Morales, who tweeted the statement that "[a]fter the failure in their attempt to overthrow him democratically, economically, politically and militarily, now the empire and its servants threaten his life" about Maduro's opponents.[60][61] Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel further announced that his nation would supply unlimited aid to Venezuela and the Bolivarian Revolution.[62] Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone with Maduro, giving his best wishes to the President and to the soldiers injured in the incident.[63]

Uruguay and Spain both denounced the violence, but did not express support for Venezuela or Maduro.[64] The Spanish embassy also said that the crisis in Venezuela should be solved peacefully and democratically.[65] Panama's president Juan Carlos Varela stated "that accusing former President Santos is irresponsible of President Maduro" and that "on one hand we condemn violence, but on the other hand we also condemn the fact that they are making baseless accusations against heads of state".[66] Luis Almagro, Secretary General of the Organization of American States, stated that "[t]he null credibility of the Maduro regime prevents knowing the truth of what happened" and reiterated that he "will always condemn the use of violence as a political tool".[67]

A Brazilian court case was ongoing regarding the travel of Venezuelan migrants across the Brazil-Venezuela border, and it was closed on Sunday 5 August, the day after the attack, with Judge Helder Barreto suspending restrictions but closing the border to Venezuelans until stability was achieved on both sides.[68] It was reopened shortly after the official bar, with the Brazilian Supreme Court saying the move was too reactionary and "not justified", commentators connecting the closure with an already strained situation gaining further "raised tensions" after the drone incident.[69]

Colombia

The earliest and most prominent of blame accusations were those levelled against Colombia, with Maduro specifically naming the Colombian President Santos as orchestrating his assassination, saying he had "no doubt" about it.[70] The Colombian government quickly denied this, stating that Santos was too preoccupied with his granddaughter's baptism to think about overthrowing Maduro.[3] Another statement added that it is "customary for Maduro to blame Colombia for any kind of problem in his country", and on the following Monday Santos himself tweeted to Maduro telling him "not to worry himself", also restating his own attendance at the "more important" baptism on the Saturday.[71]

Two days after the incident on Monday, 6 August, the Colombian Civil Aviation Authority announced a ban on drones and multirotors at the Presidential procession for Iván Duque's inauguration the next day over fears of a similar incident, with the prohibition extending to a radius and altitude of 2 nautical miles, or 12,000 feet, from Plaza Bolívar in Bogotá.[72] There were no drone attacks on the day, but it saw other attacks by FARC dissidents in which a police officer died and five people were injured.[73]

United States

In response to Maduro's accusations, the US National Security Advisor, John R. Bolton, denied US involvement in the attack and suggested that the incident could be "a pretext set up by the regime itself".[26] Bolton also stated that if the Venezuelan government "has hard information that they want to present to [the US] that would show a potential violation of U.S. criminal law, [they'll] take a serious look at it."[12] On Monday, 6 August, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo restated that the United States government had no involvement.[71]

Telemundo reported that the US embassy told its citizens in Venezuela to "find a safe place to stay, maintain a low profile, and avoid protests".[74] James Story, chargé d'affaires at the US embassy in Caracas, met with Saab and Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza in the week following the incident.[42]

On his Spanish-language talk show, Bayly, Peruvian-American journalist Jaime Bayly claimed that he had known about the attack during the week before and he supported it. He warned that there would be more attacks coming up.[75]

Controversy

"Ultimately those responsible for this attack are those in the dictatorship because they have closed all the democratic and peaceful solutions to reach agreements. No-one wants to meet with them, no-one believes what they say."

— Omar Lares, The Guardian[76]

According to initial reports after the explosion, the Associated Press stated that firefighters attended the scene and claimed that a gas tank located in the Don Eduardo apartment block had exploded during the rally, the explosion caught part of the building on fire and had to be put out.[77] An independent investigation by NGO Control Ciudadano did conclude, in regards to drone explosions, that "[t]he nearby building explosion was coincidental."[3] Efecto Cocuyo visited the building and reported that all apartments received piped gas, which does not require gas tanks. They could not say if there was also a gas tank.[78][79] Video later provided by Telemundo did indeed appear to show a drone crash into the side of the apartment building.[19] Days after the event, Bellingcat's investigation stated that the report by firefighters was an "early narrative" and that a "second drone crashed and exploded [...] and is the most likely cause of the fire which the Venezuelan firefighters described".[46]

Media outlets in Spain and Ecuador quoted a soldier in the rally who claimed he saw no drones, but heard something "like a grenade". El País says Maduro's version of events is not credible.[80] Former Venezuelan military aide Anthony Daquin talked to NTN24 about the incident and criticised the assassination theory, explaining that the event was a no-fly zone and any drones in the area would have been operated by the government.[31] The Guardian also reported that the allegations made by Maduro were "too neat" and quoted commentators who doubt the assassination legitimacy. International Crisis Group consultant Phil Gunson stated that "[t]he official 'investigation' [is following course]: begin with the conclusions and work backwards", and senior fellow at the Washington Office on Latin America David Smilde added that "[Maduro will] use it to further restrict liberty and purge the government and armed forces".[21]

Peruvian newspaper La República also wrote that "[s]ome analysts suspect that the attack is a desperate farce" and that "[i]t would not be the first time that an unscrupulous government mounted this type of setup," comparing it to the burning of the Reichstag. The paper concluded that, "genuine attack or mounted farce, basically it does not matter: Maduro has taken things to this point, which suggests bloody outcomes".[9]

The German international news service Deutsche Welle said that the only certainty about the attack is that "[t]he only one benefitting from all this is Maduro himself", noting that the President "has claimed at least 20 coups or attacks against him, but not a single one has done him harm". They called the incident "'fake news'" because "[Maduro's] regime emerges from every actual or supposed attack stronger than before", relating this to the crisis in Venezuela by saying that "[e]ach incident further distracts from increasingly unbearable problems in the country".[81]

Another theory arose of accidental drone failure causing the incident, with The Guardian reporting an independent investigation had been opened by the NGO Control Ciudadano and its head Rocío San Miguel, a military expert, which claimed that "at least one drone belonged to the military, who lost control of the device inflight. Soldiers then shot it down."[3][82] In one report, publicly available evidence was analysed along with opinion by a Tremr political commentator to critique the various theories. It came to an indeterminate conclusion but found the attack being staged to be the most likely theory, basing this on Maduro "knowing who the culprits [were] immediately" and some of the evidence statements being "clearly made up", comparing these with the reasons given by North Korea for imprisoning Otto Warmbier. It also "[ruled] out the bizarre explosives claim", citing inconsistencies between the injuries of "an otherwise unscathed soldier with a cut on his head" and damage caused by use of C4, which it says would "destroy everything within a football field from the center spot".[47]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Los delitos a imputar por atentado contra Maduro" (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  2. ^ "VIDEO: Se registran dos explosiones en pleno discurso de Nicolás Maduro en Venezuela - RT". Actualidad.rt.com. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Joe Parkin Daniels (5 August 2018). "Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro survives apparent assassination attempt". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  4. ^ a b c Martinez, Alexander (5 October 2016). "Maduro says he escaped drone 'assassination' attempt, blames Colombia". Yahoo.com. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  5. ^ Krygier, Rachelle; Faiola, Anthony (4 August 2018). "Maduro speech interrupted by explosions in what Venezuelan government calls a 'failed attack'". The Washington Post. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  6. ^ "Venezuelan President Unharmed After Assassination Attempt By Explosive Drones". Msn.com. 19 April 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  7. ^ Cohen, Sandra (6 August 2018). "Por que há tanta desconfiança em torno da suposta tentativa de atentado contra Maduro?". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Venezuela, ¿vórtice de inestabilidad en el Caribe?". El Nuevo Herald. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  9. ^ a b Lauer, Mirko (6 August 2018). "Maduro bajo fuego". La República (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  10. ^ a b c Brocchetto, Marilia. "Venezuelan President evacuated from stage after attempted attack". CNN. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  11. ^ "En video: Este sería el video del dron explotando cerca de Maduro". La Patilla (in European Spanish). 5 August 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  12. ^ a b c Kraul, Chris (5 August 2018). "Venezuela says assassination attempt used drones loaded with 2 pounds of plastic explosives". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 6 August 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  13. ^ "Venezuela's Maduro object of 'attack', but fine: official". Reuters. 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  14. ^ "Venezuela President Maduro 'survives drone attack". BBC News. 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  15. ^ Falvey, Dan (4 August 2018). "PANIC in Venezuela as EXPLOSIONS hit during speech by President Maduro". Sunday Express. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  16. ^ "Caracas confirma la detención de seis sospechosos del ataque frustrado contra Maduro". RT Sepa Más (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  17. ^ a b c Casey, Nicholas; Herrero, Ana Vanessa (5 August 2018). "Dos explosiones y una 'cosa voladora': testimonios del presunto ataque contra Nicolás Maduro". The New York Times (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  18. ^ a b "2 Blasts, a Stampede and a 'Flying Thing': Witnesses Tell of Attack on Maduro". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  19. ^ a b c "EN VIDEO: Asi reseño Telemundo el "atentado" con drones a Maduro". La Patilla (in European Spanish). 5 August 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  20. ^ a b c "Maduro assassination attempt: What happened?". USA today. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  21. ^ a b c "Foreign powers or hoax? Who's behind Venezuela 'drone attack'". the Guardian. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  22. ^ "Confusion still abounds about what caused the explosion in Venezuela, but experts warn Maduro will use it as an excuse to consolidate power either way". Business Insider. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  23. ^ "Difunden videos de supuestos drones con explosivos del atentado contra Maduro". El Comercio (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  24. ^ "Venezuela temporarily blocks critical DW documentary". Deutsche Welle. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  25. ^ Redacción, Voz de América -. "Maduro denuncia intento de "ataque", culpa a la derecha y a Santos". Voz de América (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  26. ^ a b "Venezuela 'drone attack': Six arrests made". BBC. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  27. ^ "Autores del intento de asesinato contra Maduro serán juzgados severamente". Telemundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 August 2018.
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