CARACAS, May 4 (NNN-XINHUA) – Venezuelan Interior Minister, Nestor Reverol, announced that, an attempted maritime invasion “by Colombian terrorist mercenaries,” occurred in the central state of La Guaira, to destabilise the country.
He stated that the objective of the attack was “to increase the spiral of violence, generate chaos and confusion in the population, and thereby lead to a new coup attempt.”
The “terrorists,” said Reverol, tried to enter on “speedboats along the coasts of the state of La Guaira,” but the action was thwarted by the National Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB) and the Special Actions Force (FAES) of the Bolivarian National Police (PNB).
According to Reverol, “some were killed and others arrested” in the attempt to overthrow the government of President Nicolas Maduro.
“The operation continues,” he said, not ruling out new arrests.
In responding to the attacks, Reverol urged the population to be on alert for any threat. “We will respond forcefully against these terrorist groups,” he said.
This is not the first time that Venezuela has announced an attempted coup. Last year, authorities thwarted an assault on a military base, allegedly backed by the opposition.
Recently, government authorities warned of an operation by the Venezuelan opposition to allow entry to Colombian paramilitary groups by way of the land border, in order to destabilise the country.
