​Venezuela's Interior Ministry and Supreme Court attacked

Two government offices were hit by grenades and fire from a hijacked police helicopter. President Maduro denounced the plot to incite a coup.

The man claiming to be Oscar Perez carried out the attack on two government agencies using a stolen helicopter - Photo: Reuters

On June 27 (local time), Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced that a police helicopter dropped two grenades on the country's Supreme Court building in the capital Caracas.

He accused this of being a "terrorist attack". According to AFP news agency, President Maduro implied that the masterminds were leaders of the opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) coalition because the attack was intended to "cause a coup".

Speaking from the Miraflores presidential palace, President Maduro affirmed that the armed forces have been ordered to be on high alert to ensure security. He stressed that the masterminds of the attack will be severely punished.

In this incident, only one grenade exploded, injuring one person. There are also sources saying that up to four grenades were dropped from the helicopter.

The helicopter then flew towards the headquarters of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Interior.

Later reports said the Interior Ministry headquarters was attacked by the same helicopter with dozens of bullets fired while dozens of people were gathered there for a ceremony.

Luckily no one was injured.

In a later statement, the Caracas government confirmed that the police helicopter that carried out the attack was stolen by a police pilot named Oscar Perez.

A video circulating online from an Instagram account under the name Oscar Perez shows him standing in front of several armed men and claiming that he carried out the attack on the government agency to restore democracy to the country.

Perez added that he represents a group of military, police and civil servants who oppose the current government and call for Mr Maduro to step down.

On June 26, Venezuelan security forces also announced the arrest of five people on charges of plotting to sabotage the government.

The helicopter flew away after throwing a grenade onto the Supreme Court grounds. Photo: Reuters

Venezuela is facing complex political developments.

Clashes between pro-government and anti-government protesters have left at least 70 people dead over the past two months, according to statistics. President Maduro convened the Constituent Assembly to promote national dialogue.

Replace many military leaders

On June 20, President Maduro also replaced five key commanders of the military. Speaking at a military event, President Maduro announced that Vladimir Padrino López would continue to serve as Minister of Defense, while Major General Jesús Suáres Chourio, who worked for many years in the bodyguard group of the late President Hugo Chavez, was appointed Chief of the General Staff.

In addition, President Maduro also appointed Major General Sergio Rivero as Commander of the National Guard. In addition, Major Generals Iván Hidalgo and Carlos Leal Tellería, and Admiral Edglis Herrera Balza were appointed as Commanders of the Air Force, Civil Defense and Navy, while Admiral Remigio Ceballos was appointed Commander of the Armed Forces Strategic Command.

According to Tuoi Tre