Failed attack on Venezuelan president

caracas - During a speech by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, several drones with explosives detonated on Saturday night. According to the Venezuelan Minister of Information Jorge Rodriguez, it was an attack against the president. Seven soldiers of the national guard were injured. Maduro himself remained unharmed.

The president spoke in the center of the capital a military parade about the state of the economy, when explosions sounded. On television images you can see how people next to him on stage, including Maduro's wife, scare and look up. The camera then turns to the parade, where among the hundreds of soldiers panic breaks out. Then the live broadcast was aborted.

Who is behind the attack is not known. Under the former bus driver Maduro, oil-rich Venezuela has been hit by a deep economic crisis that is accompanied by a huge shortage of goods. As a result, a large influx of refugees has started to move to neighboring countries. Especially to Colombia, but also to the Antilles. Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao are only separated from Venezuela by a piece of Caribbean sea.

In May, Maduro was re-elected for six years in elections that, according to minister of Foreign Affairs Stef Blok, were not free and independent.