$50mn offered for Maduro murder attempt, says Venezuela

Caracas : The Venezuelan government has released several videos as evidence of the August 4 assassination attempt on its President Nicolas Maduro, claiming that $50 million were offered to the attackers.

The videos were broadcasted on the state radio and television network during a statement by President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday, Efe news reported.

According to the Venezuelan government, the perpetrators had received training in drone control and explosives in the Colombian Department of Norte de Santander.

Maduro said that the "terrorists" had received orders to fly two drones with explosives to make an attempt on his life as well on the political and military leaders accompanying him on stage during the 81st anniversary celebration of the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB).

The Venezuelan Prosecutor's Office notified that it had identified all the authors of the attack and the government revealed the identities of five of the perpetrators.

Among them were retired sergeants of the GNB and an immigration official who was in charge of facilitating free passage to the attackers between Venezuela and Colombia.

Maduro claimed that all of them were also implicated in the violent attacks during the 2014 and 2017 anti-government protests.

"I am sure they will get the toughest sentence. They all are part of the (violent) group Guarimberos, participants in the political organisations of the Venezuelan right," he added.