Venezuela Denounces Rogue Helicopter Incident as Terrorism

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro blamed a former ally for orchestrating an incident in Caracas on Tuesday evening that involved a police helicopter flying over government institutions and allegedly firing shots and dropping grenades from the air.

Maduro, speaking on state television, said he activated an air defense plan and deployed all military special forces to capture the helicopter crew for what he called an “armed terrorist attack against the country’s institutions.” He blamed ally turned critic Miguel Rodriguez Torres, who previously served as his Interior Minister, for the attack, saying one of the helicopter pilots had worked under him. Images posted on social media show several men in a helicopter with a banner alluding to a constitutional article that justifies an uprising. The whereabouts of the crew are unknown and there was no information on casualties or wounded.