Police have shut down the entrance to the Venezuelan embassy in Washington DC, as crowds backing the country’s opposition confront the activists who have been defending the building for over two weeks.

Chanting and waving Venezuelan flags, protesters supporting Juan Guaido have been engaged in a heated standoff with a group of activists led by antiwar group Code Pink. The group is one of the organizations who have been holed up inside the Venezuelan embassy in order to prevent diplomats loyal to Juan Guaido from taking control of the building. The activists say they were invited in by embassy staff.

We are actually here with Venezuelans and have been handed the keys to the Embassy by the democratically-elected government of #Venezuela, but sure, keep advocating for a violation of international law...#HandsOffVenezuela — CODEPINK (@codepink) April 30, 2019

Tense arguments outside the Venezuelan embassy between anti-US and pro-opposition people. Antiwar organizers protecting the embassy from a raid by the opposition say people have been trying to break in. Secret service are stationed outside. pic.twitter.com/ty41JDdp3H - @RaniaKhalek — Shawn McKenzie 🇺🇸 (@SMcK17) April 30, 2019

On the street, the protesters backing Guaido chanted ‘freedom’ and sang the Venezuelan national anthem. They also engaged in intense verbal spars with those gathered to support the activists inside the embassy.

Outside the Venezuelan embassy in dc, the pro Guaido crowd is getting very aggressive. They were shouting “you’re running out of time” and saying they’re going to take their embassy back. They’re also very white. pic.twitter.com/t5J26ZCWRn — Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) April 30, 2019

Protests outside Embassy of Venezuela https://t.co/YCNhUPMEy7 — Caroline Patrickis (@Cpatrickis) April 30, 2019

A large group of police have also arrived at the scene, some reportedly brandishing zip-ties and handcuffs. Uniformed officials identified as ‘secret services’ were also seen outside the building taking photographs.

Huge police presence. They've shut down 30th st. pic.twitter.com/h45bpJJbR5 — Morgan Artyukhina (@LavenderNRed) April 30, 2019

Secret Service outside the entrance pic.twitter.com/Vhv6xmOpVB — Alex Rubinstein (@RealAlexRubi) April 30, 2019

The activists inside believe that the secret service may be preparing to raid the building and have issued statements that they are willing to face arrest. They also say that such a raid would be in violation of the Vienna convention, which protects foreign embassies from interference by their host countries.

I just interviewed activists still inside the embassy, some of whom are prepared to get arrested https://t.co/hwVKdInp1Ypic.twitter.com/Yh4qF0oJZ3 — Alex Rubinstein (@RealAlexRubi) April 30, 2019

The situation at the embassy heated up dramatically after opposition figure and self-declared ‘interim President’ Juan Guaido called for the overthrow of Nicolas Maduro’s government in Venezuela on Tuesday. The Venezuelan government says the “attempted military coup” is being carried out by a “a small group of traitors,” and that the military remains loyal to President Maduro.

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