Venezuela Hunts Citizens Who Cheered Coup Attempt

Security forces in Venezuela are detaining and interrogating citizens suspected of supporting last week's failed attempt to capture President Nicolás Maduro. Witnesses report that state agents have boarded public buses, searched passengers' mobile phones, and questioned individuals about their political loyalties. The operation aims to find evidence that people welcomed the armed incursion, which the government calls a "mercenary" plot. Despite the removal of the plot's leaders, this crackdown shows that political repression has intensified. Analysts say the government is using the event to justify a new wave of arrests targeting dissent. The campaign creates a climate of fear, discouraging public celebration or criticism of the administration. This response underscores the ongoing challenges to civil liberties in the country.