Venezuela announced on Tuesday that it had arrested a fourth American for allegedly plotting to assassinate President Nicolas Maduro. Aftermath of the election The opposition alleges he stole it.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said the American was arrested in Caracas after “taking photographs of electrical installations, oil facilities and military units.” Three other Americans, two Spaniards and one Czech have been arrested in Venezuela in recent weeks.
Cabello told Congress the man was “participating in plots against Venezuela, plots against our country,” including plots to assassinate “President Nicolas Maduro” and others, including himself.
Saturday, Cabello Announced The remaining six foreigners were also arrested, but they were said to be working for intelligence services and the Venezuelan opposition.
One of the Americans was identified as a U.S. Navy sailor. Detained in Venezuela A State Department spokesperson told CBS News in a statement Saturday that the Biden administration could review the detention of the sailors.
Washington, Madrid and Prague, which have denied involvement in any plots against President Maduro, on Monday demanded information from Venezuela about its citizens.
President Maduro said Monday that they had all “confessed.”
Venezuela has been locked in a spat with the United States, which recognized Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as the winner of the country’s election. Washington last week New sanctions It filed a lawsuit against 16 officials, including Venezuela’s top election official, for obstructing a “transparent electoral process” and failing to publish accurate results.
Tensions between Caracas and its former colony Spain are high as González Urrutia, 75, He defected to Spain a week ago.After being threatened with arrest.
Last week, Caracas recalled the Spanish ambassador in Madrid for consultations and summoned the Spanish envoy to Venezuela for consultations after a Spanish minister accused President Maduro of imposing a “dictatorship.” Venezuela was also outraged by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s decision to meet with President González Urrutia and warned Spain against any “interference” in Venezuela’s affairs.