Venezuela 350: Police helicopter attacks Supreme Court and Interior Ministry UPDATED

Grenades at the Supreme Court, bullets at the Interior Ministry:

A Venezuelan police helicopter strafed the Supreme Court and a government ministry on Tuesday, escalating the OPEC nation’s political crisis in what President Nicolas Maduro called an attack by “terrorists” seeking a coup.

The aircraft fired 15 shots at the Interior Ministry, where scores of people were at a social event, and dropped four grenades on the court, where judges were meeting, officials said.

However, there were no reports of injuries.

Who did it?

Venezuela’s government said in a communique the helicopter was stolen by investigative police pilot Oscar Perez, who declared himself in rebellion against Maduro.

Images shared on social and local media appear to show Perez waving a banner from the helicopter reading “Liberty”, and the number “350” in large letters.

The number refers to the constitutional article allowing people the right to oppose an undemocratic government.

The hashtag’s #350Libertad

#Venezuela | Oscar Perez flying stolen helicopter that dropped grenades on Supreme Court. pics via twitter. #OOTT pic.twitter.com/ztue54VojZ

— Lee Saks (@Lee_Saks) June 28, 2017

#350Libertad #Venezuela, elicottero attacca la Corte suprema a #Caracas #OscarPerez #OSCARPEREZGV Video integrale https://t.co/vIpZMjujKi pic.twitter.com/fzhKqd6EZC

— BlitzTV (@BlitzTVit) June 28, 2017

Pérez described that he is part of a non-partisan coalition of members of the security forces whose mission is “to serve our people” against tyranny,

#Venezuela | Oscar Perez declares war after attacking supreme court. says theres union bet citizens police & soldiers to topple Maduro #OOTT pic.twitter.com/Ba2BOn3XGt

— Lee Saks (@Lee_Saks) June 28, 2017

According to his Instagram profile, Perez is a crime units investigator, a pilot and a K9 instructor.

[information minister Ernesto] Villegas said security forces were being deployed to apprehend Pérez, who the government accused – without giving evidence – of working under the instructions of the CIA and the US embassy in Caracas, as well as to recover the helicopter.

And yet this is where the comparisons emerge with the “failed Turkish coup” to “remove” Erdogan last summer, which most admit was a staged attempt meant to further entrench the despotic president.

Francisco Toro wonders, false flag, or random lunatic?, while Daniel ponders the country chavismo wants.

UPDATE:
I’m not the only skeptic: From the WSJ comments, “This is what happens when you farm out your Reichstag fire to the lowest bidder.”