Maduro and wife injured as US forces burst into compound

Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were injured as U.S. special forces burst into the space where they were hiding during the audacious military raid to capture the Venezuelan leader in Caracas, according to one U.S. official and a person familiar with the matter.

Both Maduro and his wife were either bruised or bleeding after apparently bumping into the wall or the door of the safe room within their compound, according to the sources. Their injuries occurred prior to U.S. Delta forces coming into contact with the couple, the sources said.

Maduro and Flores received a medical evaluation while aboard the airplane that had transported them, after it landed at Stewart Air National Guard Base north of New York City, according to a second person familiar with the matter.

U.S. forces reached the compound in Caracas at about 1 a.m. ET on Saturday, and breached the residence, taking the couple by surprise, according to Dan “Raizin” Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

U.S. forces had attempted to blast through large doors behind which the Maduros were hiding using so-called flash bangs, less-than-lethal explosive devices that create intense light and sound and are meant to be disorienting.

The injuries appeared to have occurred during or just before that moment, according to the U.S. official and person familiar with the matter.

Cilia Flores was seen with bruises on her face after she first appeared in public following their capture.

She and Maduro appeared in federal court in New York on Monday on drug conspiracy charges and pleaded not guilty. Flores’ attorney told the judge she may have suffered fractured ribs and required further medical evaluation. Maduro’s attorney said the Maduro had general health and medical issues and also needed care.

Maduro told the judge he had been kidnapped.

“I am a prisoner of war,” Maduro said in Spanish.

When asked about the bruising, Flores’ attorney said, “our client is in good spirits. We look forward to reviewing and challenging the evidence the government has.”

 NBCNews.com