Incident Summary:

08/04/2018: An explosives-laden drone detonated targeting Nicolas Maduro, the President of Venezuela, as he was giving a speech in Caracas, Capital, Venezuela. Maduro was unharmed, but seven soldiers were injured in the attack. This was one of two related drone attacks targeting Maduro on this day. The National Movement of Soldiers in Shirts claimed responsibility for the incident. Operation Phoenix also claimed responsibility and stated that the attack was carried out in order to "enforce the constitution."

GTD ID:
201808040005

When:
2018-08-04

Country:
Venezuela

Region:
South America

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Capital

City:
Caracas

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Assassination
Successful Attack? (more) No
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Government (General)
Name of Entity Government of Venezuela
Specific Description President: Nicolas Maduro
Nationality of Target Venezuela
Target Type: Military
Name of Entity National Armed Forces of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (FANB)
Specific Description Soldiers
Nationality of Target Venezuela
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Unknown
Extent of Property Damage Unknown
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Explosives Remote Trigger
Weapon Details
A remote-controlled explosives-laden drone containing one kilogram of C-4 explosive was used in the attack.
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?Yes
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) Yes
Alternate Designation (more) State Actors
Additional Information There is doubt that this incident meets terrorism-related criteria. Maduro accused the governments of Colombia, Chile, and Mexico of carrying out the attack. Sources also speculated that the attack may have been a hoax.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
National Movement of Soldiers in Shirts Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Posted to website, blog, etc.)
Operation Phoenix Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: E-mail)
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 0 Fatalities / 7 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 0
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 7
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"Venezuela says diplomats may be tied to assassination try," Associated Press International, September 24, 2018.
"Maduro to release proof of Colombian role in drone 'attack'," Al Jazeera, August 7, 2018.
"Kill plot linked to opposition," Philippines Daily Tribune, August 8, 2018.