Venezuela confirms suicide of councilman related to attack against Maduro

CARACAS - Venezuela's Prosecutor General Tarek William Saab on Monday confirmed the suicide of an opposition councilman Fernando Alban, who jumped from the building of the National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) where he was detained.

The councilman would appear later in the day before the courts for alleged involvement in the failed assassination attempt against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in August.

"Alban requested to go to the bathroom and jumped from there," said Saab to the Venezuelan state television (VTV), adding that an "exhaustive investigation" will be conducted to "determine and establish the causes of this unfortunate event."

Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said via Twitter that the opposition politician had been detained at SEBIN since Oct 5.

He added that the Scientific, Penal and Criminal Investigative Corps (CICPC) will work jointly with the Public Ministry into the investigation.

During an outdoor ceremony on Aug 4 to commemorate the 81st anniversary of Venezuela's national guard, two drones carrying explosives flew close to the presidential stand as Maduro was giving a speech and detonated.

Maduro was unharmed but several members of the military sustained injuries.