Six people have been detained in the search for assailants behind a failed attempt to assassinate Venezuela’s president, Nicolas Maduro, using explosive-laden drones.

Investigators have raided hotels and seized vehicles and are grilling the suspects for details of the plot.

They are accused of launching two drones packed with explosives over a speech Mr Maduro was giving in downtown Caracas to commemorate the National Guard.

One was “diverted” by security forces while the other fell on its own and hit an apartment building, the country’s interior minister, Nestor Reverol, said.

“These terrorist acts represent a slap in the face to the expressed desire of the president of the Republic, Nicolas Maduro, for national reconciliation and dialogue,” Mr Reverol said in a statement read on state television.

He said the drones were packed with a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of C-4 plastic explosives, with one intended to explode above him and the other directly in front of him.

A turbulent year in Venezuela Show all 11 1 /11 A turbulent year in Venezuela A turbulent year in Venezuela Demonstrators scuffle with security forces during an opposition rally in Caracas, Venezuela, April 4, 2017. Venezuelan security forces quelled masked protesters with tear gas, water cannons and pepper spray in Caracas after blocking an opposition rally against socialist President Nicolas Maduro. The clashes began after authorities closed subway stations, set up checkpoints and cordoned off a square where opponents had planned their latest protest against the government and the crippling economic crisis. Carlos Garcia Rawlins: "For me that was the day that made a difference, never before had I seen the protesters and police clashing men-to-men and struggling back and forward. From then, the strategy of the police changed and they never faced the protesters so close again." Reuters A turbulent year in Venezuela A man who was set on fire by people accusing him of stealing during a rally against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro runs amidst opposition supporters in Caracas, Venezuela, May 20, 2017. Marco Bello: "I spotted a man running in front of me as a group of protesters, most of them hooded and with makeshift shields, were chasing him so I followed them. Some 100 meters down the street, the protesters caught the man and surrounded him. When I walked up and went through the circle of people to take pictures, someone had already poured gasoline over the man and set him on fire. Reuters A turbulent year in Venezuela "Rowdy groups of government supporters busted into Venezuela's opposition-controlled National Assembly. There were several clashes happening at the same time, so I tried to follow a small group of attackers as they pushed their way through the main building. By the time I got into the building, they had already finished hitting people and were on their way out, leaving behind an opposition lawmaker covered in blood. I quickly went over to the politician, Leonardo Regnault, whose grey suit was spattered in blood. He was up against an ornate wooden door, clearly in a state of shock. Another opposition lawmaker, Luis Stefanelli, was standing next to him, hands up in a sign of surrender and pleading with the attackers to stop the beating. Reuters A turbulent year in Venezuela A member of the riot security forces points a gun through the fence of an air force base at David Jose Vallenilla, who was fatally injured during clashes at a rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela, Reuters A turbulent year in Venezuela A demonstrators attends a rally against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela, June 19, 2017. Ivan Alvarado: "I was under the highway photographing some protestors who had surrounded a woman they accused of stealing a phone from someone. I turned around to check what was happening behind me and saw this man appearing from the shadows to see what was going on. The white on his face is salt, which the protestors said helped to reduce the effects of the tear gas." REUTERS A turbulent year in Venezuela Riot security forces clash with demonstrators as a motorcycle is set on fire during a protest against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government in San Cristobal, Venezuela, May 29, 2017. Carlos Eduardo Ramirez: "Security forces arrived to disperse demonstrators that already had burned two taxis and a bus, throwing tear gas and pellets and the demonstrators' response was to throw molotov cocktails and one of those petrol bombs reached a National Guard member, setting him and the motorbike on fire." Reuters A turbulent year in Venezuela Riot security forces detain a demonstrator during a rally against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela, July 28, 2017. Rock-throwing Venezuelans braved tear gas and rainstorms, blocking streets in protest against a legislative super-body to be elected two days later that critics call an attempt by President Nicolas Maduro to create a dictatorship. Carlos Garcia Rawlins: "After many hours of very violent clashes between the demonstrators and security forces, the National Guard in an attempt to end the situation, suddenly advanced their line very quickly, even going beyond where I and other photographers were taking cover. All the protesters who did not react fast enough to leave the place were detained." Reuters A turbulent year in Venezuela Opposition lawmaker Carlos Paparoni is hit by jets of water during riots at a march to the state ombudsman's office in Caracas, Venezuela, May 29, 2017. A group of young Venezuelan lawmakers has risen to prominence on the violent front line of anti-government marches that have shaken the South American country for three months, bringing 75 deaths. On the streets daily leading demonstrators, pushing at security barricades and sometimes picking up teargas canisters to hurl back at police and soldiers, the energetic National Assembly members are heroes to many opposition supporters. Carlos Garcia Rawlins: "I remember clearly how instants after I spotted Paparoni standing in front of 'The Whale', the common name of the water cannon armoured cars, he was flying through the air due to the unstoppable power of the water, as if he was a feather. Fellow protesters had to drag him out of the place, because from where I was, he seemed to have been unconscious." Reuters A turbulent year in Venezuela Flames erupt as clashes break out while the Constituent Assembly election is being carried out in Caracas, Venezuela, July 30, 2017. Deadly protests rocked Venezuela as opposition voters boycotted an election for a constitutional super-body that unpopular leftist President Nicolas Maduro vowed would begin a 'new era of combat' in the crisis-stricken nation. Carlos Garcia Rawlins: "Suddenly, a bomb exploded in the capital during an opposition protest and wounded seven police officers in what seemed to be the spread of more aggressive tactics. We were taking photos from close by but the police panicked and chased everyone away, firing teargas, rubber bullets and pellets." Reuters A turbulent year in Venezuela An injured opposition supporter is helped by volunteer members of a primary care response team during clashes with riot security forces at a rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela, June 22, 2017. Ivan Alvarado: "This image was taken next to an airforce base where another protestor was fatally injured that day. I don't know how this man was injured, I first saw him as the first aid volunteers carried him out from the midst of the tear gas. You can really see the pain in his expression as he cries out. After I took the image the motorbike speeded off down the highway." Reuters A turbulent year in Venezuela A demonstrator shouts slogans in front of police officers during a women's march to protest against President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela Reuters

On Sunday, Venezuela’s socialist government alleged the detained suspects had conspired with others in Miami and the capital of neighbouring Colombia, though gave no specific evidence.

Opposition leaders have criticised Mr Maduro for broadly singling out his political opponents, and warned he might use the attack to suppress his critics further.

State footage of the rally showed Mr Maduro and his wife appear startled at what seemed to be an explosion. The video later panned to soldiers lined up on a boulevard who chaotically broke ranks in what appeared to be a reaction to the second blast.

The president later described the attack, which injured seven soldiers, as an assassination attempt.

Venezuela president Nicolas Maduro survives failed assassination attempt using 'drones' armed with explosives

One of the suspects had an outstanding arrest warrant for involvement in a 2017 attack on a military base which killed two people, Mr Reverol said, an attack which followed four months of anti-government protests.

A second suspect had been detained during a wave of anti-Maduro protests in 2014 but had been released through “procedural benefits,” he said, without offering details.

He did not name the suspects.

In an address to the nation later on Saturday night, a visibly shaken Mr Maduro blamed the attack on the “far right,” and called on Donald Trump to hold the “terrorist group” accountable.

Appearing on Fox News Sunday, the US president’s national security adviser, John Bolton, said: “If the government of Venezuela has hard information that they want to present to us that would show a potential violation of US criminal law, we’ll take a serious look at it.”

The Broad Front, a coalition of opposition groups in Venezuela, accused the government of making an allegation without proof.

“It’s evident that the initial reaction of the government isn’t aimed at attempting to clarify what happened but rather to take advantage of the situation and irresponsibly and sweepingly attack the ‘opposition,”’ the group said in a statement.

A little-known group calling itself Soldiers in T-shirts claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it planned to fly two drones loaded with explosives at the president but soldiers shot them down.

“It was not successful today, but it is just a matter of time,” the group said in a tweet.

Violent protests erupt in Venezuela against President Maduro

Venezuela’s government routinely accuses opposition activists of plotting to attack and overthrow Mr Maduro.

The former bus driver has moved steadily to consolidate power as the nation struggles to reverse hyperinflation that the International Monetary Fund projects could top 1 million per cent by year’s end.

Last year, amid deadly, near-daily protests, a rogue police officer, Oscar Perez, flew a stolen helicopter over the capital and launched grenades at several government buildings. Perez and several of his comrades were killed in a gunbattle with police after more than six months at large.

Mr Maduro said the attack left him convinced of the military’s support and undeterred in carrying forward the socialist revolution begun by the late Hugo Chavez.