It was Machado’s first public appearance in months, since she went underground in August due to the risk of arrest.
Shortly after her address to the protesters, her security staff said she was detained.
On social media, the staff stated that a violent intervention was made against her as she left the demonstration and that shots were fired at the motorcycle convoy she was traveling in.
More gipands
Machado called for the protest ahead of Maduro being installed for a third six-year term on Friday despite the disputed July election. Several opposition figures have since been arrested.
– They wanted us to fight each other, but Venezuela stands united! Machado shouted from a truck on the streets of the capital on Thursday.
The 57-year-old politician called on supporters to come “in the millions” to pressure Maduro to hand over power to Edmundo González Urrutia, the opposition candidate in exile who many international observers see as the rightful winner of the election. Machado himself had his presidential bid blocked by Maduro-loyal institutions in 2023.