(Bloomberg) -- Venezuela detained six foreigners on Saturday who it claims were part of a plan to overthrow the government and assassinate President Nicolas Maduro.
Intelligence agencies from the US and Spain were behind the plot, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said at a press conference on Saturday, adding that more than 400 weapons were seized. Fourteen people were arrested, including three Americans, two Spaniards and a Czech, he said.
A US State Department spokesperson confirmed Venezuela held a member of the US military and said the department is aware of unconfirmed reports that two other Americans were detained by the Maduro government.
The spokesperson denied any US involvement in a plot to overthrow the Maduro regime and said the department is seeking additional information on the detentions.
Cabello’s announcement follows Venezuela’s July 28 presidential vote, in which the electoral authority declared Maduro the winner of a third consecutive term. The results have been contested by the opposition, while even some Maduro allies — including Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Colombian President Gustavo Petro — have urged the government to publish the complete voting tallies.
--With assistance from Jenny Leonard.
(Updates with number of arrests and nationalities from first paragraph.)
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