Venezuelan Police Detained Colombian 'Provocators' Following Border Clashes - Source

Venezuelan security forces have detained a group of Colombian nationals who took part in Saturday's clashes between Venezuelan police and protesters at the border between the two countries, a source in Venezuelan police told Sputnik on Monday

SAN ANTONIO (Venezuela) (UrduPoint news / Sputnik - 25th February, 2019) Venezuelan security forces have detained a group of Colombian nationals who took part in Saturday's clashes between Venezuelan police and protesters at the border between the two countries, a source in Venezuelan police told Sputnik on Monday.

The clashes were triggered by attempts to bring unauthorized humanitarian aid to Venezuela. Since Colombia is an active supporter of aid deliveries, requested by Venezuelan opposition, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who qualifies aid deliveries as attempts to topple the legitimate government amid ongoing political crisis, severed diplomatic and political relations with Colombia on Saturday.

"We have detained several provocators ... They were armed upon apprehension. They were shooting toward Venezuelan servicemen," the source said.

The source added that the detained Colombians were already giving testimony. They have told the police forces about the location of weapon caches under the Simon Bolivar International Bridge at the Venezuelan-Colombian border.

A Sputnik correspondent reported that the situation at the border had already stabilized after the clashes, but Venezuelan Army and police were on full alert, ready to repel new possible attacks by Colombia.

Three border bridges, via which the opposition attempted to force humanitarian cargo into the country, are currently blocked.

"Yesterday was a hard day. There have been several clashes today. Colombian bandits fired gunshots at us. But yesterday we won," a serviceman, who took part in the clashes, told Sputnik.

The situation in crisis-torn Venezuela escalated on January 23 when the opposition leader, Juan Guaido, declared himself interim president, disputing last year's reelection of Maduro. Guaido was almost immediately recognized by the United States and some other countries. Russia, China and Mexico, among other nations, voiced support for Maduro, who, in turn, accused Washington of orchestrating a coup.