 Armed gunmen stole a government-owned helicopter before dawn on Saturday after taking three security guards hostage at an airport in eastern Venezuela, the local governor said. The Bell helicopter is the second to be stolen from the airport located in Ciudad Bolivar, about 270 miles east of Caracas, in less than a year, Francisco Rangel told the Union Radio broadcaster. Rangel said "seven to 10 people with assault rifles" boarded the helicopter and flew off after they had taken one of three security guards hostage. The gunmen released the security guards, who also stole three revolvers and two shotguns before fleeing, Rangel said. Rangel said authorities had not spotted the helicopter since it was seized, nor did they have any leads regarding suspects.
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