The arrests come amid heightened tensions between Caracas and Western nations over disputed Venezuelan election outcomes.
Venezuela has detained three U.S. residents, two Spaniards and a Czech nationwide over an alleged plot to destabilize the South American nation, a senior authorities official stated.
Venezuelan Inside Minister Diosdado Cabello stated Saturday that the six have been detained on suspicion of planning an assault in opposition to President Nicolas Maduro and his authorities.
The arrests come as tensions have soared in current weeks between Venezuela and america, Spain and different Western nations over disputed Venezuelan elections held in late July.
Maduro, who has been in energy since 2013, was declared the winner of the election however the nation’s opposition stated the competition was riddled with fraud and that its candidate had defeated the long-serving president.
The election outcomes sparked mass opposition protests, leaving greater than two dozen individuals useless and practically 200 injured.
Throughout a press convention on Saturday, Cabello accused the 2 detained Spanish residents of getting alleged hyperlinks to the Spanish secret service and of planning the homicide of a mayor.
The couple was arrested whereas taking pictures within the city of Puerto Ayacucho, the minister stated.
Spanish media reported that the Spanish authorities denied this declare.
Cabello additionally accused three U.S. residents and a Czech citizen of collaborating in “terrorist” acts, together with alleged plans to assassinate Maduro and different officers.
“These teams are in search of to grab the nation’s wealth and we as a authorities will reply firmly to any try at destabilization,” Cabello stated.
He added that round 400 rifles of US origin have been seized.
A U.S. State Division spokesman advised Reuters information company that “one U.S. navy member” had been detained in Venezuela and that he was conscious of unconfirmed experiences that two different U.S. residents have been detained there.
However the State Division stated america was not concerned in an try and overthrow Maduro.
“Any declare that america is concerned in a plot to overthrow Maduro is categorically false,” the spokesperson stated. “The USA continues to help a democratic answer to the political disaster in Venezuela.”
Venezuela recalled its ambassador to Spain this week and summoned the Spanish ambassador to look on the International Ministry after a Spanish minister accused Maduro of operating a “dictatorship.”
Venezuela was additionally outraged by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s choice to fulfill with Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo González, who fled to Spain final week after being threatened with arrest by Maduro’s authorities.
Caracas has additionally confronted renewed tensions with Washington, which acknowledged Gonzalez because the winner of the July 28 elections.
The USA additionally imposed new sanctions on Venezuela earlier this week.