Venezuela arrests three over attack on Maduro


FE Team | Published: October 18, 2018 13:23:11 | Updated: October 19, 2018 18:34:41


Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro seen in this Reuters file photo

Venezuela's Communication and Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez has announced new arrests in connection with the failed assassination attempt on President Nicolas Maduro in August last.

Oswaldo Castillo alias "El Capi," Wilder Vasquez alias "Capo," and retired air force lieutenant colonel Rafael Diaz were arrested, Rodriguez said on Wednesday.

With these arrests, "the mastermind behind the assassination plot is perfectly established," said the minister, adding that those involved are associated with Venezuela's far right, according to a Xinhua report Thursday.

He said that these individuals also took part in violent protests from 2014 to 2017.

"We have now identified and captured the two groups who participated in the attempted assassination," Rodriguez said, noting the investigations will continue.

During an outdoor ceremony on August 4 to commemorate the 81st anniversary of Venezuela's national guard, two drones carrying explosives flew close to the presidential stand as Maduro was giving a speech and detonated.

Maduro was unharmed but several members of the military sustained injuries.

 

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