Venezuela National Assembly attacked by Maduro supporters

Several people have been injured in the fracas

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  Opposition lawmakers brawl with pro-government militias who are trying to force their way into the National Assembly during a special session coinciding with Venezuela’s independence day, in Caracas, Wednesday, July 5, 2017. At least five lawmakers were injured in the attack. Despite the violence, lawmakers later approved a plan by the opposition to hold a symbolic referendum July 16 to give voters the chance to reject President Nicolas Maduro’s plans to draft a new political charter. (AP Photos/Fernando Llano)

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  Opposition lawmaker Franco Casella is attacked by masked men in a melee with supposed government supporters who tried to forced their way into the National Assembly at the end of a ceremony commemorating the country's Independence Day in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, July 5, 2017. Venezuela is marking 206 years of their declaration of independence from Spain. (AP Photos/Fernando Llano)

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  Members of the Bolivarian National Guard march during a military parade marking the country's Independence Day in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, July 5, 2017. Venezuela is marking 206 years of their declaration of independence from Spain. (AP Photos/Ariana Cubillos)

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  Female soldiers march during a military parade marking the country's Independence Day in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, July 5, 2017. Venezuela is marking 206 years of their declaration of independence from Spain. (AP Photos/Ariana Cubillos)

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  Opposition lawmaker Americo De Grazia is led away by bodyguards and a National Assembly employee after he was injured in a melee with supposed government supporters who tried to force their way into the National Assembly during a special session coinciding with Venezuela’s independence day, in Caracas, Wednesday, July 5, 2017. At least five lawmakers were injured in the attack. De Grazia had to be taken in a stretcher to an ambulance suffering from convulsions, said a fellow lawmaker. (AP Photos/Fernando Llano)

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  Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro holds out his arms as arrives to attend a military parade commemorating the country's Independence Day in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, July 5, 2017. Venezuela is marking 206 years of their declaration of independence from Spain. (AP Photos/Ariana Cubillos)

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  A supposed government supporter who was part of a group that tried to force its way into the National Assembly, is temporarily detained by national guardsmen, but let go soon after, in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, July 5, 2017. Pro-government militias wielding wooden sticks and metal bars violently stormed congress and began attacking opposition lawmakers at the end of a special session coinciding with Venezuela’s independence day. (AP Photos/Fernando Llano)

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  A masked men kicks at opposition lawmaker Franco Casella in a melee with pro-government militias who tried to forced their way into the National Assembly during a special session coinciding with Venezuela’s independence day, in Caracas, Wednesday, July 5, 2017. At least five lawmakers were injured in the attack. (AP Photos/Fernando Llano)

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  Dozens of government supporters set up a picket outside the National Assembly, heckling lawmakers during a special session coinciding with Venezuela’s independence day, in Caracas, Wednesday, July 5, 2017. Wielding wooden sticks and metal bars the group eventually stormed congress and began attacking opposition lawmakers. (AP Photos/Fernando Llano)

Government supporters stormed the Venezuela's opposition-controlled National Assembly, injuring several lawmakers and journalists.

The violence unfolded while President Nicolás Maduro was giving a speech at a government-planned Independence Day military parade in the capital, Caracas.

The supporters were armed with sticks and bars. Some set off fireworks within the building’s gardens. Photos of the walls of the building smeared with blood have circulated online.

Pro-opposition Venezuelan website La Patilla reported that several deputies had been attacked by a mob at the building in the capital.

It said there were "several injured inside the AN (National Assembly) who were beaten by violent groups".

Video from the scene showed people with blood running down their faces.

One of the wounded politicians, Americo de Grazia, had to be taken in a stretcher to an ambulance suffering from convulsions, said a fellow congressman.

Local media reports that eight have been wounded and it is believed at least one person has been taken away for medical treatment.

A large crowd had been gathered outside the building for several hours before dozens of them broke into the grounds.

The attackers ordered journalists to stop filming and taking photographs and leave the premises.

Venezuela is in a deep economic crisis and citizens face severe shortages of basic supplies such as medicine and food. The falling price of oil, which accounts for about 95% of export revenues, has made the situation worse.

An attempted takeover of the National Assembly by the Supreme Court earlier this year was reversed by the president, of whom there are almost daily protests calling for him to stand down. He has accused the opposition of trying to illegally overthrow the government.