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| Venezuela politician sentenced over drone attack on Maduro | Venezuela politician sentenced over drone attack on Maduro |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Venezuelan opposition politician Juan Requesens has been sentenced to eight years in jail, his lawyer says. | Venezuelan opposition politician Juan Requesens has been sentenced to eight years in jail, his lawyer says. |
| He was arrested three days after a drone carrying explosives blew up at a military parade attended by President Nicolás Maduro on 4 August 2018. | He was arrested three days after a drone carrying explosives blew up at a military parade attended by President Nicolás Maduro on 4 August 2018. |
| Mr Maduro was not hurt in the attack. | Mr Maduro was not hurt in the attack. |
| Juan Requesens has denied any involvement in the incident and his family say he was targeted because he is an outspoken critic of the Maduro government. | Juan Requesens has denied any involvement in the incident and his family say he was targeted because he is an outspoken critic of the Maduro government. |
| A former student leader, he became well known for organising anti-government protests in 2014. | A former student leader, he became well known for organising anti-government protests in 2014. |
| He was elected to the National Assembly, where he made a name for himself with passionate speeches in which he said he would not give up fighting until Mr Maduro was removed from the presidency. | He was elected to the National Assembly, where he made a name for himself with passionate speeches in which he said he would not give up fighting until Mr Maduro was removed from the presidency. |
| His lawyer, Joel García, said he had been found guilty of conspiracy, without giving more details. Venezuela's prosecutor's office has not yet commented. | His lawyer, Joel García, said he had been found guilty of conspiracy, without giving more details. Venezuela's prosecutor's office has not yet commented. |
| Surprise attack | Surprise attack |
| The charges against Mr Requesens relate to an incident at a military parade in Caracas in 2018. | |
| As the parade was in full swing, a small drone carrying explosives detonated in the air, not far from the stage where the president and top officers of the military were standing. | |
| Mr Maduro's bodyguards rushed to protect the president and he and those on stage were unhurt. However, seven members of the National Guard were injured in the panic-filled moments which followed. | Mr Maduro's bodyguards rushed to protect the president and he and those on stage were unhurt. However, seven members of the National Guard were injured in the panic-filled moments which followed. |
| Footage showed dozens of soldiers running away before the transmission was cut off | Footage showed dozens of soldiers running away before the transmission was cut off |
| Footage showed dozens of soldiers running away before the transmission was cut off | Footage showed dozens of soldiers running away before the transmission was cut off |
| Mr Maduro himself was quick to blame Mr Requesens and another opposition lawmaker, Julio Borges, for the attack. | Mr Maduro himself was quick to blame Mr Requesens and another opposition lawmaker, Julio Borges, for the attack. |
| Mr Borges, who was living in exile, dismissed the accusation as a "farce", but Mr Requesens was detained by secret police. | Mr Borges, who was living in exile, dismissed the accusation as a "farce", but Mr Requesens was detained by secret police. |
| President Maduro said Mr Requesens was "one of the craziest" plotters against his life and charges ranging from conspiracy to treason were levelled against him. | President Maduro said Mr Requesens was "one of the craziest" plotters against his life and charges ranging from conspiracy to treason were levelled against him. |
| Rights activists have denounced his arrest from the start, arguing he is a political prisoner. | Rights activists have denounced his arrest from the start, arguing he is a political prisoner. |