Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro emerged on his country's national TV hours after what he called an "attempt against his life" on Saturday and pointed blame at far-right elements and Colombia's outgoing president, Juan Manuel Santos.
"I'm alive and victorious," he said, reports the CNN.
Maduro spoke to the nation a few hours after being evacuated from a stage in Caracas, where he was in mid-speech at an event to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the Venezuelan National Guard.
He says a device exploded right in front of him.
"There was a big explosion," adding that he initially thought it was fireworks as part of the parade. Seconds later there was a second blast, he said.
"They have tried to assassinate me today," he added.
Venezuela's Minister of Communication, Jorge Rodriguez, said preliminary information showed the explosions came from several "drone-type flying devices" containing explosive charges that detonated in the vicinity of the presidential stage and in some areas of the parade.
Seven members of the Venezuelan National Guard were hurt during the attack.
A photo posted on Twitter by Freddy Nanez, head of the Venezuelan state run news channel VTV, shows bodyguards shielding Maduro following the explosions.
Venezuela's attorney general, Tarek William Saab, told CNN he ordered an investigation into the incident, assigning three prosecutors to the investigation.
Saab was close to the president during the event, and says the drone responsible for filming the event exploded. He adds a second explosion followed.
During his speech to the nation following the incident, Maduro said the investigation started immediately and that some of those involved in the attack had already been captured and charged, although he did not specify the charges against them.
Speaking in front of members of the military and other government officials, Maduro also said that authorities were able to obtain evidence of the attack and said the investigation was in an advanced stage.
He blamed the Venezuelan political far right in collaboration with the Colombian far right, and the current Colombian President Santos of being behind the assassination attack.
He also blamed Venezuelans living in the US.
BDST: 1446 HRS, AUG 5, 2018
AP
