Venezuelan Army on High Alert Following Helicopter Attack on Supreme Court Building

One day after a former Venezuelan police officer attacked the Ministry of Interior and the Supreme Court building with a helicopter, the President of Venezuela has ordered all military forces to be on high alert. According to Reuters, the attacker, identified as Oscar Pérez, a former intelligence officer, had previously directed an action film in which he portrays a character shooting from a helicopter. Pérez, who is now a fugitive, called for a rebellion against Nicolás Maduro's government and the overthrow of his administration in a video released after the attack. The Maduro government has claimed, without providing evidence, that Pérez acted 'on the orders of the CIA and the U.S. Embassy in Caracas' and has warned of a possible 'coup' against his government, prompting the military to be put on high alert. Maduro has been resisting pressure and protests from opponents demanding elections and his removal for several months; opponents blame him for the economic crisis that has led to widespread hunger and violence. Both buildings targeted by Pérez are considered by government opponents as key centers supporting Nicolás Maduro. In a video released, Pérez stated: 'We are a coalition of military personnel, police officers, and civil servants... who oppose this criminal and interim government.' On Tuesday, at the start of his attack, while a ceremony attended by 80 people was taking place at the Ministry of Interior for National Journalists' Day, Pérez fired 15 shots from the helicopter at the building. He then flew towards the Supreme Court building, which is not far from the Ministry of Interior, and threw four grenades at it, two of which were aimed at the building's guards. Government officials claim that these attacks resulted in no casualties or injuries. The helicopter used by Pérez has been found in a location on the coasts of Venezuela, and police are searching Pérez's home while operations to arrest him continue. Pérez, who previously worked in the police's secret investigation unit, has posted various videos of himself in military attire, riding horses, jumping from helicopters with dogs, and diving with weapons on Instagram, where many followers watch his videos.