Venezuela warns of embassy plot

Venezuela warned Monday of analleged plan by extremists to attack the shuttered U.S. Embassy complex in Caracas with explosives, coming as bilateral tensions simmer over Washington’s military deployment in the Caribbean.

- ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jorge Rodriguez, head of the National Assembly and of Venezuela's delegation for dialogue with the U.S., said ina statement that through “three different channels,” the United States had been warned “of a serious threat” from right-wing groups posing as followers of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

“Through a false-flag operation prepared by extremist sectors of the local right, there are attempts to plant lethal explosives at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas,” Rodriguez said.

The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The embassy, which is currently closed, maintains astaffresponsible for security and maintenance of the premises, despite the rupture of diplomatic relations with Maduro’s government in2019.