Caracas, Jan 6: Security forces in Venezuela opened fire near the presidential palace in Caracas on Tuesday night after unidentified drones were reportedly spotted above the heavily guarded complex, triggering nearly an hour of gunfire across parts of the capital.
According to BNO News, shots rang out around the Miraflores presidential palace at approximately 8 pm local time, with residents describing loud and continuous firing heard in multiple districts. Some areas also reported brief electricity outages during the incident.
A government-linked source said security personnel responded after drones were detected over the palace compound. “The drones were unidentified, and forces acted immediately to secure the area,” the source told BNO News. Officials later said the situation had been stabilised.
There was no immediate confirmation of casualties or structural damage, and Venezuelan authorities have yet to issue a detailed official statement.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing objects moving overhead, while videos shared online captured flashes and gunfire sounds near the palace area. The authenticity of the footage has not been independently verified.
Reacting to the developments, the White House said the US had no role in the incident. “The United States was not involved,” a spokesperson said, according to BNO News.
The incident unfolded against the backdrop of major political upheaval in Venezuela. Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim President days after Nicolás Maduro was detained and transferred to the United States following a weekend operation.
Maduro appeared before a federal court in New York on Monday, where he entered a plea of not guilty to multiple charges, US officials said.
