Venezuela president survives assassination attempt; suspects caught [VIDEO]

In this still from a video provided by Venezolana de Television, Presiden Nicolas Maduro, center, delivers his speech as his wife Cilia Flores winces and looks up after being startled by and explosion, in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018. Venezuela's government says several explosions heard at a military event were an attempted attack on President Maduro. Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez said in a live broadcast that several drone-like devices with explosives detonated near the president. He said Maduro is safe and unharmed but that seven people were injured. / AP

A security member bleeds after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's speech was interrupted in Caracas, Venezuela, on Aug. 4, 2018. Venezuela's Minister of Communication Jorge Rodriguez confirmed on Saturday night an attempted attack against President Nicolas Maduro. / Xinhua

Venezuelan Military participate in a televised event with soldiers in the center of Caracas, / EPA

Drones armed with explosives detonated near Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as he gave a speech to hundreds of soldiers in Caracas on Saturday but the socialist leader was unharmed, according to the government.

Seven people were injured in the apparent attack which came as Maduro celebrated the National Guard's 81st anniversary, said Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez. Maduro's speech was abruptly cut short and soldiers could be seen breaking ranks and scattering.

``At exactly 5:41 p.m. in the afternoon several explosions were heard,'' Rodriguez said in a live address to the nation minutes after the incident. ``The investigation clearly reveals they came from drone-like devices that carried explosives.''

But firefighters at the scene of the blast disputed the government's version of events.

Three local authorities who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case said the incident was actually a gas tank explosion inside an apartment near the site of Maduro's speech.

Smoke could be seen coming out a building window.

Security forces check a building after an explosion was heard during a ceremony attended by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in support of the National Guard in Caracas on August 4, 2018 day in which Venezuela's controversial Constituent Assembly marks its first anniversary. / AFP

Venezuelan National Guard soldiers run during an event which was interrupted, in this still frame taken from video August 4, 2018, Caracas, Venezuela. / Reuters

Venezuela's government routinely accuses opposition activists of plotting to attack and overthrow Maduro, a deeply unpopular leader who was recently elected to a new term in office in a vote decried by dozens of nations. Maduro has steadily moved to concentrate power as the nation reels from a crippling economic crisis.

Adding to the confusion, a previously unknown group calling itself Soldiers in T-shirts claimed responsibility, saying it planned to fly two drones loaded with explosives at the president, but government soldiers shot them down before reaching its target. The Associated Press could not independently verify the authenticity of the message.

``We showed that they are vulnerable,'' the tweet said. ``It was not successful today, but it is just a matter of time.''

The organization did not respond to a message from The Associated Press seeking more information.

In the midst of near-daily protests last year, a rogue police officer flew a stolen helicopter over the capital and launched grenades at several government buildings. Oscar Perez was later killed in a deadly gun battle after over six months on the lam.

``The right insists on violence to take public spaces that they can't win with votes,'' Diosdado Cabello, a high-ranking socialist party leader, wrote on Twitter Saturday after the apparent assault, which he characterized as a ``terrorist attack.''

State television was broadcasting Maduro's speech at the National Guard anniversary live when the incident took place.

``We are going to bet for the good of our country,'' Maduro declared triumphantly moments before the sound of an explosion pierced the air. ``The hour of the economy recovery has come.''

Seconds later Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, looked up to the sky and winced.

The cameras then turned to a wide shot of uniformed military officers standing at attention in neat lines as they broke rank and began running. The transmission then cut off.

Images being shared on social media showed officers surrounding Maduro with what appeared to be a black bullet-proof barrier as they escorted him from the site. (AP)

Members of different security forces stand guard and take evidence after an explosion targeted President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela, 04 August 2018. / EPA

Security forces check a nearby building after an explosion was heard while Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was attending a ceremony to celebrate the 81st anniversary of the National Guard, in Caracas on August 4, 2018. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was unharmed after an exploding drone "attack" interrupted his speech at a military ceremony, the minister of communication Jorge Rodriguez said following the incident. / AFP

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused Colombia of being behind an "attack" with an explosive-laden drone he said targeted him on Saturday.

Speaking shortly after state television showed him cut off mid-speech in front of a Caracas military parade by a bang, Maduro said a "flying object exploded in front of me" and blamed the incident on Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos.

"It was an attack to kill me, they tried to assassinate me today," Maduro said in a state broadcast. "I have no doubt that the name Juan Manuel Santos is behind this attack." (AFP)