8 years ago

Helicopter used in Venezuela Supreme Court attack found

Authorities continued a nationwide manhunt for Oscar Perez two days after the government charged that he stole the police chopper and directed grenades and gunfire against the Supreme Court and Interior Ministry

Staff Reporter

TRT World and Agencies

A security officer of the Supreme Court shows an image of a type of grenade, which President Nicolas Maduro's government says the policemen used to attack the Supreme Court and Interior Ministry after hijacking a helicopter in Caracas.

Oscar Perez is a cop, pilot, action movie star and dog trainer. He's now also a fugitive, accused of attacking two key Venezuelan government buildings from a helicopter in a attempt to set off a revolt against President Nicolas Maduro.

Authorities on Thursday continued a nationwide manhunt for Perez two days after the government charged that he stole the police chopper and directed grenades and gunfire against the Supreme Court and Interior Ministry in what Maduro called a "terrorist attack."

No one was injured, and there was no sign of damage at the buildings. But the episode added another layer of intrigue to a 3-month-old political crisis that has left at least 75 people dead and hundreds more jailed or injured in clashes between security forces and protesters seeking Maduro's removal.

TRT World's Abubakr al Shamahi has more on the story.