Venezuela's military is on maximum alert a day after exploding drones caused chaos in Caracas. President Nicolas Maduro has called it an assassination attempt, yet critics fear it's a government ploy to crack down on the opposition. CGTN's Juan Carlos Lamas reports.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was hurriedly ushered away from the scene of the apparent assassination attempt - launched as he was giving a speech to Venezuela's national guards in Caracas.

JORGE RODRIGUEZ VENEZUELAN MINISTER OF COMMUNICATION "Several blasts were heard, and the investigations just confirmed they came from flying objects, more specifically Drones which were carried with some explosive materials that exploded next to the place where President Maduro was speaking."

Hours after the attack, Maduro confirmed the arrest of several people believed involved in the plot. He then accused Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos by name.

NICOLAS MADURO VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT "I have no doubt that this all points to the extreme right in Venezuela, in alliance with the right in Colombia and that (Colombian President) Juan Manuel Santos is behind this attempt. I have no doubt."

Maduro also pointed to dissidents living in the United States.

NICOLAS MADURO VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT "I hope that the Government of President Donald Trump is willing to fight terrorist groups that intend to commit homicides, or attacks against peaceful countries of our continent, in this case, Venezuela."

Colombian officials rejected Maduro's allegations as "absurd" and baseless.

A firm denial, too, from US National Security Adviser John Bolton of any US government involvement. As for others in the country, Bolton said Maduro needs to show some evidence.

JOHN BOLTON WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER "If the government of Venezuela has hard information that they want to present to us that would show a potential violation of US criminal law, we'll take a serious look at it."

Authorities continue to investigate and Justice Minister Nestor Reverol said more people have been identified for possible involvement, both inside and out of Venezuela, and more arrests are expected.

JUAN CARLOS LAMAS CARACAS "Whether it was a drone charged with explosive materials, a gas tank explosion, or a group called soldiers in t-shirts which claims it is responsible for the attacks, the Venezuelan opposition says the government is just creating a distraction from Venezuela's real problems such as extreme shortages of food and medicine and a deep economic crisis. Juan Carlos Lamas, CGTN, Caracas."