During his televised address to the Venezuelan nation, Maduro claimed that some of those who plotted the assassination live in Florida, USA. The Venezuelan president expressed his hope that US President Donald Trump would collaborate on bringing those in the US responsible for the assassination attempt to justice.
“We will hold accountable those responsible, who live abroad, especially in the United States. According to the preliminary findings, many of the organizers of the assassination are living in the United States, in the state of Florida. I hope that the government of Donald Trump will be ready to fight the terrorist groups that commit attempts against peaceful countries, in our case — Venezuela,” the president of the South American nation emphasized.
Particularly, Maduro accused Colombian right-wing forces of being behind a Saturday attack on him using explosives-laden drones, claiming that the assassination was plotted with the blessing of Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos.
“It was an attack to kill me, they tried to assassinate me today,” Maduro said in a televised address. “I have no doubt that the name Juan Manuel Santos is behind this attack.”
Maduro, addressing the nation just before 9 p.m., blamed right-wing elements in Venezuela and Colombia for the attack, and said that President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia was also responsible.
“All the investigations point to Bogotá,” he said, accompanied by his ministers and military high command. “They have tried to kill me today.”
The Venezuelan president asserted that he survived the assassination attempt as a result of the combined energies of his God, the Venezuelan people and the country’s armed forces.
“That drone was coming for me but there was a shield of love,” Maduro said, cited by Reuters. “I am sure I will live for many more years.”
Earlier in the day, at 5:30 p.m. two drones loaded with explosives targeted the stage where Maduro had been giving a speech. A total of seven servicemen were injured in the attack.
Venezuela is mired in a deep political and socioeconomic crisis which many blame on dropping oil prices as well as leadership decisions.
In May, Maduro was reelected president with some 68% of the vote. A number of countries, including the United States, Argentina, Spain, Germany, and the United Kingdom characterized the vote as unfair and illegitimate.
Additional reporting by agencies
