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Explosive Device Targets Venezuela’s Consulate in Lisbon, No Injuries Reported
Venezuela’s consulate in Lisbon was the target of an explosive device on Saturday night, though no injuries were reported, according to local police. The incident occurred around 10 p.m. when an unidentified individual threw what authorities described as a “Molotov cocktail” against the building’s wall.
The Lisbon Metropolitan Public Security Police (PSP) responded swiftly, setting up a security perimeter to preserve evidence and calling in the fire brigade. No fire resulted from the device, but the attack caused some material damage to the consulate. A police source confirmed that “no one was hit,” adding that the act appeared to be more symbolic than violent.
The attack comes just days after the controversial inauguration of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro for a new six-year term. The opposition, led by figures such as María Corina Machado and Edmundo González, has repeatedly claimed that the elections held in July lacked transparency and evidence of Maduro’s victory, calling his inauguration a “coup d’état.”
Machado, who had been leading protests against Maduro’s continued rule, was briefly detained in Caracas on Thursday after attending a demonstration aimed at preventing his swearing-in.
The Venezuelan government swiftly condemned the attack on its consulate. Foreign Minister Yván Gil took to Instagram to denounce the incident, calling the Molotov cocktail attack an act of “fascism” aimed at disrupting the services provided to Venezuelan citizens abroad. He added that the attack would not deter Venezuela’s “Bolivarian revolution” and emphasized that such “irrational aggressions” would not reverse the country’s progress.
In response to the incident, the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attack and promised to increase security around the consulate. The Portuguese authorities have referred the case to the Judicial Police, who are investigating the matter further.
The attack comes amid heightened tensions surrounding Maduro’s presidency, with former Latin American leaders, such as former Colombian presidents Álvaro Uribe and Iván Duque, publicly discussing the possibility of international intervention in Venezuela to end the Bolivarian regime. Maduro, in turn, has vowed to prepare for conflict, stating he is ready to “take up arms” if necessary to retain power, with the support of allies like Cuba, Nicaragua, China, Russia, and Iran.
Meanwhile, Venezuela’s increasing isolation on the global stage continues. In the days leading up to his inauguration, Maduro ordered the closure of Venezuela’s border with Colombia, and authorities announced plans to shut the border with Brazil on January 13.
This latest attack on the Venezuelan consulate in Lisbon underscores the growing international tensions surrounding Maduro’s rule and the ongoing political instability in Venezuela.
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Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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