Havana [Cuba], September 19: A seventh foreign national has been arrested in Venezuela on charges of conspiracy over what Caracas claims was a plot to assassinate President Nicolas Maduro, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said on Tuesday.
The US citizen was "captured here in Caracas while he was taking photos of electrical systems, oil apparatus and military facilities," Cabello told parliament. The suspect, whom Cabello did not identify, was part of the "plan against Venezuela," the minister said.
Last week, six foreign nationals - three Spanish, two US and one Czech national - were arrested in Venezuela on suspicion of plotting to kill Maduro. The alleged plan was to "generate violence" and "destabilize" the country, Cabello said then.
Cabello claimed, without providing evidence, that the plans were backed by the secret services of Spain and the US, as well as Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.
The US State Department has confirmed the detention of a US military member in Venezuela and acknowledged reports of two more US citizens being detained there. It also rejected accusations of CIA involvement.
The arrests come amid diplomatic tensions between Caracas and the governments of Spain and the US.
Source: Qatar Tribune