Many Venezuela National Assembly Members Injured As Protesters Storm The Parliament

Many Venezuela National Assembly Members Injured As Protesters Storm The Parliament

Violence in the streets as blood splattered on walls and MPs injured as rioters storm parliament leaving Venezuela on the brink of civil war

Brandishing guns and dressed in red, the activists fired shots, threw stones and set off fireworks in the capitol building in Caracas, local reports claimed.

Shocking images show the walls dripping in blood and two opposition politicians with blood running down their faces.

The government supporters reached as far as the corridors of the congressional building, reportedly striking and injuring at least three lawmakers.

Some local reports have said up to eight people are understood to have been injured.

Pro-opposition Venezuelan website La Patilla said several deputies had been attacked by the mob.

It said there were “several injured inside the AN (National Assembly) who were beaten by violent groups”.

Those injured are said to include opposition deputy Americo de Grazia.

Heridos al menos dos diputados tras violenta irrupción de colectivos a la AN https://t.co/MuhRZsTTW2 pic.twitter.com/tgH2ZXeXeV

— Efecto Cocuyo (@EfectoCocuyo) July 5, 2017

The attackers ordered journalists to stop filming and taking photographs and leave the premises.

Lawmaker Yajaira de Forero named three of her colleagues who she said were struck, including one who was taken away for medical treatment.

Tension is high in Venezuela after three months of anti-government protests that have seen 91 people killed in clashes with police.

Protesters blame Maduro for a desperate economic crisis, but he claims the chaos is the result of a US-backed capitalist conspiracy by the opposition.

The opposition-controlled legislature was holding a special session to mark independence day when the government supporters burst in.

Various small explosions were heard, possibly from fireworks thrown into the legislative compound, witnesses said.