President Nicolas Maduro said the 'terrorist' attack was an attempt at ousting him from power
A ROGUE cop who counts a former Miss Venezuela as a friend stole a police helicopter and dropped grenades on the country's Supreme Court this morning in what President Nicolás Maduro called a "terrorist attack".
The aircraft also fired 15 shots at the Interior Ministry in Caracas, where scores of people were at a social event, officials said.
Footage on social media shows a police helicopter circling over the city before shots and a loud bang are heard.
The "celebrity police" officer said to have piloted the stolen aircraft issued a statement denouncing the "criminal government" on Instagram.
President Nicolas Maduro said the attack was a bizarre attempt at ousting him from power.
Earlier the chopper pilot, identified as Oscar Perez, called for a rebellion against Maduro's "tyranny" as part of a coalition of members of the country's security forces.
Authorities said they were still searching for the rebel - who is a part-time actor and has appeared in a number of films.
In a video released on social media, Perez, who is flanked by four armed men, says: "Venezuelans, dear brothers, we talk to you on behalf of the state.
"We are a coalition of military, police and civilians in search of an equilibrium and against this transitory, criminal government.
"We have two choices: be judged tomorrow by our conscience and the people or begin today to free ourselves of this corrupt government."
He added: "This fight...is against the vile government. Against tyranny."
Perez also claims to not be associated with any political party - stating in another video that his allegiance is to "the truth and to Christ".
Venezuelan site, El Nacional, has reported that Perez is a former captain in the CICPC, Venezuela'a intelligence and investigative body.
His Instagram profile, which states he is a crime units investigator, a pilot and a K9 instructor, is flooded with pictures of him holding guns.
One of them features former Miss Venezuela, Irene Esser with the pair seen lying on the ground and pointing guns.
Local media has also linked Perez to a 2015 action film called Suspended Death which he co-produced and starred in as an intelligence agent who is sent to rescue a kidnapped businessman.
Those on the ground say it is a miracle no one was killed during the incident.
"It could've caused a tragedy with several dozen dead and injured,"said Maduro.
Later, Information Minister Ernesto Villegas read a statement from the government accusing the helicopter of firing 15 shots against the Interior Ministry as a reception was taking place for 80 people celebrating national journalist's day.
It then flew a short distance to the court, which was in session, and launched what he said were four Israeli-made grenades of "Colombian origin."
Villegas said security forces were being deployed to apprehend Perez as well as recover the heisted German-built Bolkow helicopter.
Photos of the pilot standing in front of the US Capitol in Washington and a US Coast Guard helicopter were displayed on state TV to further bolster the government's case that he was taking instructions from the CIA and the US Embassy.
The helicopter incident capped a volatile 24 hours that began with widespread looting in the coastal city of Maracay on Monday night and continued Tuesday when opposition lawmakers got into a heated scuffle with security forces assigned to protect the National Assembly.
At least 68 supermarkets, pharmacies and liquor stores were looted and several government offices burned following anti-government protests in Maracay, which is about a 90 minute drive from Caracas.
Maduro condemned the violence but with a stern warning to his opponents that's likely to only further inflame an already tense situation.
"We will never surrender. And what we couldn't accomplish through votes we will with weapons," he said.
On Tuesday, opposition lawmakers got into a fight with national guardsmen as they tried to enter the National Assembly.
The commander of a national guard unit protecting the legislature aggressively shoved National Assembly President Julio Borges as he's walking away from a heated discussion.
At nightfall, a few dozen people were still gathered inside the neoclassical building as pro-government supporters stood outside threatening violence.
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