Venezuela president denounces violence after helicopter drops grenades on supreme court

Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday denounced what he termed a “terrorist attack” on conflict-wracked Venezuela, after a renegade policeman launched an airborne assault on the country’s Supreme Court in a stolen helicopter.

In extraordinary scenes in Caracas on Tuesday evening, the helicopter fired shots at the interior ministry and dropped grenades on the Supreme Court, both viewed by Venezuela's opposition as bastions of support for its dictator.

No one was injured in the incident, which came amid yet more turmoil in the country as the chief prosecutor, Luisa Ortega Diaz, was stripped of some of her powers, and opposition politicians were shoved and harangued by pro-government colleagues inside the National Assembly.

On Wednesday the government was continuing to hunt for the pilot, Oscar Perez - a budding action movie star with Hollywood looks, whose Instagram account features stills from his film Suspended Death, striking a series of James Bond-esque poses.

Some of Mr Maduro’s opponents said they believed Mr Perez’s stunt was engineered by President Maduro, to provide him with an excuse to crack down on three months of protests, which have left at least 75 people dead.

But the government said the pilot was taking instructions from the CIA and the US Embassy, displaying photos of him standing in front of the US Capitol in Washington and a US Coast Guard helicopter on state television.

Mr Perez describes himself as a Venezuelan patriot.

An investigator with Venezuela’s largest police division, the CICPC, Cuerpo de Investigaciones Científicas, Penales y Criminalísticas, he hung a banner from the helicopter reading “350 Libertad”- 350 Freedom - an apparent reference to the 350th article of the Venezuelan constitution, which allows for disobedience to any regime or authority that violates democratic values or human rights.

He posted a series of Instagram messages justifying the attack, flanked by masked men wielding rifles, and said that he launched the attack “against tyranny”.

“We are a coalition of military personnel, police and civilians,” he said, addressing the cameras in a series of Instagram posts.

“This is a fight for life, for hope which we are building. It is not about vengeance: it is about justice, and our consciences, which have driven us to seek change.”

He said that his helicopter stunt was intended “to give the power back to the people”, and demanded that Mr Maduro and his ministers resign, and hold general elections.

Samuel Moncada, Venezuela’s foreign minister, last night lashed out at the US, the EU and Canada for failing to condemn the incident.

Miguel Rodriguez, a former interior minister and intelligence chief under Mr Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chavez, who has now turned against the government, was among those who voiced doubt over Mr Perez's intentions.

"I'm not at all convinced by the helicopter incident," said Mr Rodriguez. Mr Perez worked for him as a pilot.

He said the figures behind Mr Perez looked like dolls, and said he was surprised the helicopter did not injure anyone.

“Conclusion: a cheap show,” he said.

“Who gains from this? Only Nicolas for two reasons: to give credibility to his coup d'etat talk, and to blame Rodriguez," he added, referring to himself.

But others just saw it as yet more signs of frustration at the teetering regime.

Diego Arria, Venezuela’s exiled former ambassador to the UN, told the Telegraph he did not believe it was orchestrated by Mr Maduro.

“This caught them by surprise,” he said. “They were trying to make a point – that’s why no one was killed.”

The helicopter was found abandoned on the Caribbean coast, but Mr Perez has disappeared.

"It seems like a movie," said Julio Borges, leader of the opposition-controlled legislature.

"Some people say it is a set-up, some that it is real.

“A thousand things are happening, but I summarise it like this: a government is decaying and rotting, while a nation is fighting for dignity."