Vice President Tareck El Aissami, who led government supporters to the Palacio Federal Legislativo. El Aissami made a fifteen-minute speech calling for more supporters to arrive, stating they needed "to forge independence in the streets", leaving shortly thereafter. Hundreds of government supporters and colectivos arrived in the succeeding hours, storming the Federal Legislative Palace after the National Guard opened the facility. Pro-government individuals then attacked opposition lawmakers with pipes, firearms and fireworks, leaving at least 12 injured, with the National Guard refusing to intervene in the violence. Reaction President Maduro stated that a military rebellion had occurred and called the incident a "terrorist attack". Opposition officials said that the actions were staged so Maduro could justify a crackdown on those who oppose his government and the constituent assembly. Others described the events as a "Reichstag fire" incident, comparing it to the situation which helped establish the Nazi party in Germany. Venezuelans were especially concerned with why the country's air force and its military's 5,000 Russian-made Igla-S MANPADS weapons – the largest stockpile in Latin America – were not deployed during the incident. Control Ciudadano, a Venezuelan NGO, stated that it made no sense that an aircraft taking off from a military base had not been intercepted after abandoning its flight plan. The NGO also noted that the Venezuelan armed forces had the responsibility for pursuing the helicopter after it had flown across Caracas and left the area. Representatives from Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, and the United States issued statements about the incident, condemning the perpetrators of the incident, the government actions, or the general atmosphere of violence and disorder. See also 2018 Caracas drone attack List of attacks on high courts References 2017 in aviation 2017 in Venezuela Aviation in Venezuela 2017 Venezuelan protests Helicopter attacks 21st century in Caracas June 2017 events in South America Political history of Venezuela Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Venezuela) Events in Caracas Attacks on government buildings and structures 2017 airstrikes 2017 disasters in Venezuela