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France 24
2 days ago
- Politics
- France 24
Coordinated flurry of bombings and gun attacks rock Colombia
Colombia was rocked by a string of 24 coordinated bomb and gun attacks that killed at least seven people across the country's southwest Tuesday, deepening a security crisis roiling the Andean nation. Attackers struck targets in Cali -- the country's third-largest city -- and several nearby towns, hitting police posts, municipal buildings and civilian targets. National Police chief Carlos Fernando Triana said assailants -- suspected to be a local guerrilla group -- had attacked using car bombs, motorcycle bombs, rifle fire and a suspected drone. "There are two police officers dead, and a number of members of the public are also dead," he said. Police later put the toll at seven dead and 28 more injured. In Cali and the towns of Villa Rica, Guachinte and Corinto, AFP journalists witnessed the tangled wreckage of vehicle bombs surrounded by scorched debris and damaged buildings. 09:52 The attacks came days after a brazen attempted assassination of a presidential candidate in Bogota that has put the country on edge. Many Colombians are now fearful of a return to the violence of the 1980s and 1990s, when cartel attacks, guerrilla violence and political assassinations were commonplace. Interior Minister Armando Benedetti said the government had received unverified "proof" of possible guerrilla involvement in the attack on Senator Miguel Uribe. 'Well-coordinated offensive' In the town of Corinto, resident Luz Amparo was at home when the blast gutted her bakery Tuesday. "We thought it was an earthquake," she told AFP. "My husband said 'no, they are shooting.'" Her phone began to ring off the hook and she went to check on her store. As she rounded the corner, the neighbors began to look in her direction. "Everything was leveled," she said. Police and experts blamed the attacks on a dissident faction of the once-powerful FARC guerrilla group. Security expert Elizabeth Dickinson of the International Crisis Group said the attacks were likely the work of a group known as the Central General Staff (EMC). "This is a particularly well-coordinated offensive. It really demonstrates the capacity that the group has built" she told AFP. "And I think very alarmingly it demonstrates their ability to conduct operations in the metropolitan area of Cali." Efforts by President Gustavo Petro to reach a peace deal with the EMC and other armed groups have repeatedly failed. Dickinson said the group may be trying to stop an ongoing military operation that is reported to have injured or killed the group's veteran leader, known as "Ivan Mordisco." "They are trying to raise the cost of that military initiative for the government," said Dickinson. In a statement on Tuesday, the EMC warned the public to stay away from military and police installations, but stopped short of claiming responsibility. The attacks come three days after conservative senator Uribe, 39, was shot twice in the head at close range by an alleged hitman while campaigning in the capital. A 15-year-old suspect pleaded "not guilty" on Tuesday to carrying out the attempted assassination. The government believes he was a hired gun. That attack has stunned Colombians, prompted speculation about who was responsible and raised questions about the president's response. Petro has taken to social media to speculate that the hit was ordered by an international "mafia" and to claim that Uribe's security detail was suspiciously reduced the day he was shot.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Coordinated flurry of bombings and gun attacks rock Colombia
Two dozen coordinated bomb and gun attacks killed at least seven people across southwestern Colombia on Tuesday, just days after presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe was shot in the head, sparking fears of a return to the violence of the 1980s and 1990s. Colombia was rocked by a string of 24 coordinated bomb and gun attacks that killed at least seven people across the country's southwest Tuesday, deepening a security crisis roiling the Andean nation. Attackers struck targets in Cali -- the country's third-largest city -- and several nearby towns, hitting police posts, municipal buildings and civilian targets. National Police chief Carlos Fernando Triana said assailants -- suspected to be a local guerrilla group -- had attacked using car bombs, motorcycle bombs, rifle fire and a suspected drone. "There are two police officers dead, and a number of members of the public are also dead," he said. Police later put the toll at seven dead and 28 more injured. In Cali and the towns of Villa Rica, Guachinte and Corinto, AFP journalists witnessed the tangled wreckage of vehicle bombs surrounded by scorched debris and damaged buildings. The attacks came days after a brazen attempted assassination of a presidential candidate in Bogota that has put the country on edge. Many Colombians are now fearful of a return to the violence of the 1980s and 1990s, when cartel attacks, guerrilla violence and political assassinations were commonplace. In the town of Corinto, resident Luz Amparo was at home when the blast gutted her bakery Tuesday. Read more on FRANCE 24 EnglishRead also:Colombian presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe shot in head at Bogota rallyColombia reinstates arrest warrants for guerrilla leaders behind deadly violence
United News of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- United News of India
8 killed in Colombia terrorist attacks
Bogota, June 11 (UNI) Eight people were killed and 28 others injured Tuesday in a wave of terrorist attacks in southwest Colombia, local authorities confirmed. The latest terrorist attack occurred in a rural area in Jamundi, a town in western Valle del Cauca department, which claimed three lives. Jamundi mayor Paola Castillo condemned the attack and said that officers found a cylinder on the Guachinte Bridge that exploded. The head of the Colombian police force, Carlos Fernando Triana confirmed on the social platform X that three police officers died as a result of the wave of attacks in the city of Cali, capital of Valle del Cauca department. Two civilians were also killed and another 10 injured. The Third Division of the Colombian National Army condemned the attacks in various towns in the southwestern departments in Colombia. "We express our absolute support for the Colombian police, which have been a direct target of these cowardly attacks, and we reiterate our unwavering commitment to the defense and security of citizens," it said in a statement. The army announced that security forces have been deployed as reinforcements in the affected areas. UNI XINHUA ARN
The Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Eight dead in latest Ecuador drug violence
CORINTO: Southwest Colombia was rocked by a string of explosions and gun attacks that left at least four people dead Tuesday, police said, in what appeared to be a coordinated wave of attacks designed to sow terror. It was not immediately clear who was behind the attacks, but guerrillas who broke away from the once-powerful FARC rebel army are known to operate in that part of Colombia. The attacks hit Cali -- the country's third largest city -- and several nearby towns, targeting police stations and other municipal buildings. The National Police chief, Carlos Fernando Triana, told La FM radio that assailants had attacked targets with car bombs, motorcycle bombs, rifle fire and a suspected drone. 'There are two police officers dead, and a number of members of the public are also dead,' he said. Police later said at least two civilians were among those killed, and 12 others were injured. In the town of Corinto, an AFP journalist witnessed the tangled wreckage of a car that had exploded, and a scorched and badly damaged municipal building. Corinto resident Luz Amparo was at home when the blast also gutted her bakery. 'We thought it was an earthquake' she told AFP. 'My husband said 'no, they are shooting.'' Her phone began to ring of the hook, and she went to her check on her store. As she rounded the corner the neighbors began to look in her direction. 'Everything was levelled,' she said. Triana suggested the attacks may be linked to the third anniversary of the killing of FARC dissident leader Leider Johani Noscue, better known as 'Mayimbu.' The bombings came days after the attempted assassination of a presidential candidate in Bogota, a brazen attack that already had the country on edge. Conservative senator Miguel Uribe, 39, was shot twice in the head at close range by a 15-year-old alleged hitman while campaigning Saturday. That attack has stunned Colombians and prompted speculation about who was responsible. Thousands have taken to the streets in major cities to light candles, pray and voice their anger at the assassination attempt. Many Colombians are fearful of a return to the violence of the 1980s and 1990s, when cartel attacks, guerrilla violence and political assassinations were commonplace.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Four dead as Colombia hit with wave of bombings, gun attacks
CORINTO: Southwest Colombia was rocked by a string of explosions and gun attacks that left at least four people dead Tuesday, police said, in what appeared to be a coordinated wave of attacks designed to sow terror. It was not immediately clear who was behind the attacks, but guerrillas who broke away from the once-powerful FARC rebel army are known to operate in that part of Colombia. The attacks hit Cali -- the country's third largest city -- and several nearby towns, targeting police stations and other municipal buildings. The National Police chief, Carlos Fernando Triana, told La FM radio that assailants had attacked targets with car bombs, motorcycle bombs, rifle fire and a suspected drone. 'There are two police officers dead, and a number of members of the public are also dead,' he said. Police later said at least two civilians were among those killed, and 12 others were injured. In the town of Corinto, an AFP journalist witnessed the tangled wreckage of a car that had exploded, and a scorched and badly damaged municipal building. Corinto resident Luz Amparo was at home when the blast also gutted her bakery. 'We thought it was an earthquake' she told AFP. 'My husband said 'no, they are shooting.'' Her phone began to ring of the hook, and she went to her check on her store. As she rounded the corner the neighbors began to look in her direction. 'Everything was levelled,' she said. Triana suggested the attacks may be linked to the third anniversary of the killing of FARC dissident leader Leider Johani Noscue, better known as 'Mayimbu.' The bombings came days after the attempted assassination of a presidential candidate in Bogota, a brazen attack that already had the country on edge. Conservative senator Miguel Uribe, 39, was shot twice in the head at close range by a 15-year-old alleged hitman while campaigning Saturday. That attack has stunned Colombians and prompted speculation about who was responsible. Thousands have taken to the streets in major cities to light candles, pray and voice their anger at the assassination attempt. Many Colombians are fearful of a return to the violence of the 1980s and 1990s, when cartel attacks, guerrilla violence and political assassinations were commonplace.
