Anti-government protesters drop grenades from helicopter in Venezuela

June 28 (UPI) -- The Venezuelan government confirmed that a helicopter flew over two government buildings, launching grenades and firing gunshots.

Videos circulating on social media of the attack show a helicopter flying in the Caracas sky with a banner that reads, "Liberty. Article 350" as explosions and gunfire are heard in the background. The Guardian reported it is a reference to an article in the Venezuelan Constitution that grants citizens the right to engage in civil disobedience against "any regime that runs counter to democratic guarantees or undermines human rights."

Venezuelan Information Minister Ernesto Villegas said 15 shots were fired from the helicopter as it flew over the Interior Ministry building. The helicopter then flew over the supreme court building and dropped four grenades onto its roof. Both buildings had people inside at the time of the attack.

President Nicolas Maduro said the attack was an act of terrorism and urged the opposition party to condemn it.

A police officer by the name of Oscar Perez published several videos on Instagram taking responsibility for the attack. In the videos, four armed, masked men stand behind him as he faces the camera, unmasked, and delivers a message.

"We are nationalists, patriots and institutionalists," he said in one video. "This fight is not against other state security forces. It is against the impunity imposed by this government. It is against tyranny. It is against the death of young people fighting for their legitimate rights."

Maduro was speaking to a group of journalists inside the supreme court building at the time of the attack. The Venezuelan president said nobody was hurt in the attack and that one of the grenades failed to explode, but there will nonetheless be a response.

Maduro said he "activated the entire national armed forces to defend people's right to serenity," adding: "Sooner or later, we will capture the helicopter and those who have committed this armed attack."