The arrests come as tensions rise between Caracas and Western international locations over disputed Venezuelan election outcomes.
Venezuela has detained three U.S. residents, two Spaniards and a Czech citizen on suspicion of conspiring to destabilize the South American nation, a senior administration official stated.
Venezuelan Inside Minister Diosdado Cabello stated on Saturday that the six individuals have been detained on suspicion of plotting assaults in opposition to President Nicolás Maduro and his authorities.
Tensions between Venezuela and the USA, Spain and different Western international locations have heightened in latest weeks over disputed Venezuelan elections in late July.
Maduro, who has been in energy since 2013, was declared the winner of the vote, however the nation’s opposition stated the election was fraudulent and its candidate defeated the long-ruling president.
The election outcomes triggered large opposition protests that left greater than two dozen individuals lifeless and practically 200 injured.
At a information convention on Saturday, Cabello accused two detained Spanish nationals of allegedly having ties to Spain’s secret service and planning to assassinate a mayor.
The minister stated the 2 have been detained whereas taking pictures within the city of Puerto Ayacucho.
Spanish media reported that the Spanish authorities denied the declare.
Cabello additionally accused three U.S. residents and a Czech citizen of partaking in “terrorist” acts, together with alleged plots to assassinate Maduro and different officers.
“These teams search to grab nationwide wealth, and we as a authorities will reply firmly to any try to destabilize it,” Cabello stated.
He added that about 400 rifles from the USA had been seized.
A U.S. State Division spokesman instructed Reuters that “a U.S. service member” was detained in Venezuela and was conscious of unconfirmed stories that two different U.S. residents have been detained there.
However the U.S. State Division stated the USA was not concerned in makes an attempt to overthrow Maduro.
“Any suggestion that the USA is concerned in a plot to overthrow Maduro is totally false,” the spokesman stated. “The USA continues to help a democratic resolution to the political disaster in Venezuela.”
Venezuela this week recalled its ambassador to Spain for consultations and summoned the Spanish ambassador to the overseas ministry after Spanish ministers accused Maduro of “dictatorship”.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s resolution to satisfy Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez additionally angered Venezuela.
There are additionally new tensions between Caracas and Washington, which acknowledged González because the winner of the July 28 election.
The USA additionally imposed new sanctions on Venezuela earlier this week.
