Venezuela foils plot to assassinate President Maduro

The plot to assassinate President Nicolas Maduro, involving both current and retired military officials, was planned to be carried out between June 22 and 23. "We have discovered, dismantled and arrested a group of fascist terrorists who were plotting a coup against Venezuelan society and democracy," President Maduro announced on television on June 26. "They were arrested and imprisoned with clear evidence." To date, at least six people have been arrested, four of whom were arrested on June 21.

The plotters planned to attack three military bases and the headquarters of Venezuela's intelligence agency to rescue General Raul Baduel, the former defense minister who was arrested in 2009 on corruption charges, and then install him to replace President Maduro.

Venezuelan Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez accused Colombian President Ivan Duque of "planning a coup and assassination" of President Maduro, and also hinted that Chilean President Sebastian Pinera and US National Security Adviser John Bolton were also involved in the plot. Colombia, Chile and the US have not commented.

Maduro was once assassinated by an explosive-laden drone during a military parade in Caracas in early August last year. His bodyguards used a special bulletproof shield to shield him from the explosion. The Venezuelan leader has repeatedly accused the US and Colombia of being behind assassination plots targeting him, but has not provided concrete evidence.