Venezuelan president calls incident at Supreme Court 'terror attack'

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A police helicopter attacked the Venezuela Supreme Court in Caracas on Wednesday in what President Nicolas Maduro condemned as a "terror attack."

Two grenades were thrown at the building but failed to explode.

The helicopter also flew over the Interior Ministry but there were no reports of any injuries.

Attackers hold a poster with anti-government slogans in a helicopter. /CCTV Photo

The attacker was reportedly a local government police pilot who released a video on his Instagram calling for a rebellion against Maduro's "tyranny".

"Venezuelans, dear brothers, we address you on behalf of the state. We're a coalition of military officials, police and civilians. We are in search of balance and against this transitional, criminal government," he said.

"I have activated the entire armed forces to defend the peace," Maduro said from the Miraflores presidential palace.

"I demand that the MUD (opposition coalition) condemns this eminently coup-mongering attack," he added.

The front of a building of the Venezuela Supreme Court in Caracas. /Reuters Photo

Maduro said he hopes to restart the process of "peace talk" with oppositions, and the Constituent Assembly Election was likely one of the ways to solve the opposition protests which have lasted for three months.

Maduro's opponents particularly disliked the pro-government Supreme Court as its string of rulings have been empowering the president but undermining the opposition-controlled legislature.

For more than two years, Venezuelans have been struggling from the country’s terrible economic crisis in generations. The price of oil, which has long boosted the local economy and paid for social programs, has plummeted.

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