Latest news with #LuzAmparo
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.
LeMonde
2 days ago
- Politics
- LeMonde
Colombia hit with wave of bombings and gun attacks, leaving at least 4 dead
Colombia was rocked by a string of 19 coordinated bomb and gun attacks that killed at least four people across the country's southwest on Tuesday, June 10, deepening a security crisis roiling the Andean nation. Police said 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 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." Police later said at least two civilians were among those killed, and 12 others were injured. In Cali and the towns of Villa Rica, Guachinte and Corinto, AFP journalists witnessed the tangled wreckage of vehicles surrounded by scorched debris. The assaults came days after the attempted assassination of a presidential candidate in Bogota, a brazen attack that has put the country on edge. 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. 'Well-coordinated offensive' In the town of Corinto, resident Luz Amparo was at home when the blast gutted her bakery. "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 her check on her store. As she rounded the corner the neighbors began to look in her direction. "Everything was levelled." Police and experts blamed Tuesday's 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." Help us improve Le Monde in English Dear reader, We'd love to hear your thoughts on Le Monde in English! Take this quick survey to help us improve it for you. 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." 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 Miguel Uribe, 39, was shot twice in the head at close range by an alleged hitman while campaigning in Bogota. That attack has stunned Colombians, prompted speculation about who was responsible and raised questions about President Gustavo Petro'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. On Tuesday, a 15-year-old pled "not guilty" to carrying out the attempted assassination. The government believes he was a hired gun.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Four dead as Colombia hit with wave of bombings and gun attacks
Colombia has been rocked by a string of coordinated bomb and gun attacks that killed at least four people across the country's south-west, deepening a security crisis roiling the Andean country. Police said attackers launching 19 attacks on 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 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 Cali and the towns of Villa Rica, Guachinte and Corinto, AFP journalists witnessed the tangled wreckage of vehicles surrounded by scorched debris. The assaults came days after the attempted assassination of a presidential candidate in Bogotá put the country on edge. 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. In the town of Corinto, resident Luz Amparo was at home when the blast gutted her bakery. '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 her check on her store. As she rounded the corner the neighbors began to look in her direction. 'Everything was levelled,' she said. Police and experts blamed Tuesday's attacks on a dissident faction of the once-powerful Farc guerrilla group. Security expert Elizabeth Dickenson 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.' Dickenson 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 'Iván Mordisco'. 'They are trying to raise the cost of that military initiative for the government,' said Dickenson. 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 Miguel Uribe, 39, was shot twice in the head at close range by an alleged hitman while campaigning in Bogota. That attack has stunned Colombians, prompted speculation about who was responsible and raised questions about Gustavo Petro's response. Petro has speculated on social media 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. On Tuesday a 15-year-old pleaded not guilty to carrying out the attempted assassination. The government believes he was a hired gun.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
At least 4 dead as bombings, gun attacks hit Southwest Colombia
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.
