Murder of Lawmaker Linked to Washington-Backed Groups, Says Maduro

The perpetrators of the crime have been already identified, Maduro said when attending the burial of Serra and his female companion Maria Herrera.Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Friday that the murder of young socialist lawmaker Robert Serra and his companion is linked to paramilitary groups financed by former Colombian president Alvaro Uribe, and “mafias” in the U.S. backed by Washington.

The perpetrators of the crime have been already identified, Maduro said when attending the burial of Serra and his female companion Maria Herrera, who were murdered Wednesday evening in their western Caracas home.

Venezuelan authorities have said the crime was an “intentional homicide” done by hired assassins.

“This is not a random incident committed by common criminals, this is an intentional homicide, planned and executed with great precision,” said Venezuelan Interior and Justice Minister Miguel Rodriguez Torres.

Maduro has announced a meeting with all security agencies and authorities to “activate a special security plan” and step up the protection of all socialist leaders.

Serra’s death once again puts the spotlight on the violent crime in Venezuela, a problem that the government has said is its first priority, and polls consistently show it to be one of Venezuelans’ main concerns.