Reports of an assault on the interior ministry and supreme court mark a dramatic escalation following months of protests

What do we know about the Venezuela helicopter attack?

What happened in Venezuela on Tuesday evening?

The country has been convulsed by months of protests against its president, Nicolás Maduro, but Tuesday’s events mark a dramatic escalation. Reports suggest that a helicopter piloted by a former police intelligence officer attacked two government buildings in the capital, Caracas, using guns and grenades.

The country’s information minister, Ernesto Villegas, said the helicopter fired 15 shots against the interior ministry as a reception was taking place for 80 people celebrating national journalists day. It then flew a short distance to the supreme court, where it dropped four Israeli-made grenades of “Colombian origin”. Two of the bombs were hurled at national guardsmen protecting the building, he added.



The pro-government president of the high court said there were no injuries from the attack and that the area was still being surveyed for damages on Wednesday.

What do we know about Oscar Pérez, the alleged pilot of the helicopter?

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Oscar Pérez reads a statement from an undisclosed location. Photograph: Reuters Tv/Reuters

According to the Venezuelan daily El Nacional, the man who flew the helicopter is Oscar Pérez, a former captain in the CICPC, Venezuela’s intelligence and investigative body. Pérez’s Instagram profile describes him as a crime units investigator, a pilot and a K9 instructor (dog trainer).

The government is claiming, without offering evidence, that Pérez was following orders from the CIA and the US embassy in Caracas. Photographs of the pilot standing in front of the Capitol in Washington and a US Coast Guard helicopter were shown on state television as special forces launched a manhunt. At this early stage, it is not clear how much support Pérez has.

Venezuela president says supporters will take up arms if government falls Read more

What about his motives?

In a video released on social media, Pérez, flanked by four masked men holding assault rifles, says that he and his fellow fighters are taking a stand against the “impunity and tyranny” of the government.

“Venezuelans, dear brothers, we talk to you on behalf of the state. We are a coalition of military, police and civilians in search of a balance and against this transitory, criminal government,” Pérez says. “We have two choices: be judged tomorrow by our conscience and the people or begin today to free ourselves from this corrupt government.”



Pérez claims to have no political or party affiliation. In a second video, he points to a purple ribbon tied around his left arm and says his allegiance is to “the truth and to Christ”.

Some opposition parliamentarians have expressed suspicion on Twitter that the incident was manufactured by the government as prelude to a crackdown on its critics.

What is article 350?

The CICPC helicopter used in the attack flew a banner reading, “350 Libertad”, (350 Freedom). It is a reference to article 350 of the Venezuelan constitution, which states: “In keeping with their republican tradition and their fight for independence, peace and liberty, the Venezuelan people will not recognise any regime, legislation or authority that runs counter to democratic values, principles and guarantees, or undermines human rights.”

Could this have been a coup attempt?

Pérez’s words certainly suggest that some members of the security forces are no longer prepared to accept Maduro’s government and are willing to use violence. The question now is how many – and what might they do next?

Speaking on state TV, the president referred to those behind the assault as “terrorists”, adding the “eminently coup-mongering attack … could have caused a tragedy with several dozen dead and injured”.

What is behind the turmoil in Venezuela?

Opposition activists have been staging unrelenting protests against a government they accuse of chronic mismanagement and increasingly authoritarian behaviour.

Polls show Maduro’s popularity is at 21.9%. His most recent effort to quell the social unrest, by proposing to redraft the constitution, provoked rare criticism from within his own party ranks. Even the country’s attorney general, a long-time ally of Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chávez, declared the move unconstitutional and a “threat to Chávez’s legacy”.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest People loot a supermarket in Maracay, Venezuela. Photograph: Federico Parra/AFP/Getty Images

Venezuela’s economy is in tatters with inflation rising by 800% in 2016 while the economy shrank by 18.6% during the same period, according to the central bank. Crime has soared with more than 28,479 homicides in 2016 – one of the highest murder rates in the world. Finding food or medicine has become nearly impossible – except for the few who can afford black market prices.

About 68 businesses, including supermarkets, liquor stores, bakeries and food shops were ransacked in a wave of lawlessness that began on Monday night in the city of Maracay, 62 miles (100km) west of Caracas, and continued well into Tuesday afternoon.

Videos circulating on social media showed at least a dozen supermarkets being ransacked by looters. The headquarters of the governing party, the PSUV, was also reportedly burnt.



More than 80 people have died since the clashes began in April, but Monday night’s violence marked the first time that street clashes have spread into more generalised anarchy.



What happens next?

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Nicolás Maduro: ‘We will never surrender.’ Photograph: Ariana Cubillos/AP

Maduro has said that any further attempts to destabilise his government will have catastrophic consequences and result in a wave of refugees dwarfing the migration crisis in the Mediterranean.

In a blunt appeal to the US to stop its alleged meddling in Venezuela, Maduro said: “Listen, President Donald Trump. You have the responsibility: stop the madness of the violent Venezuelan rightwing.”

He has also warned that his supporters were prepared to take up arms to defend the government and its programme.

“We will never surrender,” he said. “And what we couldn’t accomplish through votes we will with weapons.”



