Venezuela: rebellious helicopter pilot killed

caracas - The rebellious Venezuelan helicopter pilot Oscar Pérez died during a confrontation with security forces. Last year he gained worldwide fame with an action in which government buildings were bombarded with grenades from a stolen helicopter. Minister Nestor Reverol (Interior) announced the death of Pérez.

The Venezuelan authorities have been hunting for months for Pérez, a former policeman. He gave publicity to actions against the authorities via the internet. At the end of last year, a video appeared on his YouTube account, in which masked men attacked the security forces at night. They fascinated a group of soldiers and would have stolen weapons and ammunition.

Pérez also seems to have shared his latest confrontation with the authorities on social media. The rebel published a series of dramatic videos on Monday, in which he said he was under attack. Shots could also be heard in the videos. Minister Reverol revealed a day later that the pilot and several other members of a 'terror cell' were killed.