Colombia experiences wave of explosive attacks against infrastructure and police
Colombia has experienced a wave of explosive attacks targeting infrastructure and security forces shortly after the inauguration of President Abelardo de la Espriella.
In the early hours of Saturday, an unidentified group detonated explosives at the Mondomo (Cachimbal) toll booth on the Pan-American Highway between Popayán and Cali. The attack, which targeted infrastructure under final construction by the Nuevo Cauca concessionaire, left two security guards injured and caused significant structural damage, forcing the temporary closure of the highway. President De la Espriella condemned the act, stating that attacking infrastructure is an attack on the country's progress.
In a separate incident in the Cesar department, a police officer, Sub-inspector Argemiro Rodelo Canchila, was killed in an attack involving explosives launched from drones against the San Roque police substation. Additionally, an attack using drones was reported against the Porce III police station in Antioquia, allegedly carried out by the FARC's Front 36.
Other violent incidents included two explosions in Manizales that damaged over ten homes and several businesses, and explosive-related injuries reported in Huila and Norte de Santander. Authorities are currently investigating the responsibility behind these coordinated actions.
Entities: Abelardo De La Espriella · Agencia Nacional de Infraestructura · Cesar · Colombia · ELN · Ministry of Defense · Mondomo Toll Booth · National Police of Colombia · Nuevo Cauca · Pan-American Highway · Rodelo Canchilla · Santander de Quilichao
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Sub-inspector Argemiro Rodelo Canchila died in a drone-launched explosive attack against a police substation in Cesar. (A drone attack in Cesar killed a police officer.)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A drone attack was reported against the Porce III police station in Antioquia, attributed to the FARC's Front 36. (An explosive attack in Antioquia targeted the Porce III police station.)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Pan-American Highway was temporarily closed between Popayán and Santander de Quilichao due to the attack. (The attack led to the temporary closure of the Pan-American Highway between Popayán and Santander de Quilichao.)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Two explosions occurred in Manizales, affecting more than 10 houses and several commercial establishments. (Two explosions occurred in Manizales causing property damage.)
- [● 7 SOURCES] An explosion destroyed a toll booth under construction in the Mondomo sector on the Pan-American Highway. (The explosion destroyed a toll booth under construction in the Mondomo sector.)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Two security guards were injured in the attack on the Mondomo toll booth. (The explosion at the Mondomo toll booth resulted in injuries to two security guards.)
- [● 7 SOURCES] President Abelardo de la Espriella condemned the attack on the toll booth infrastructure. (President Abelardo de la Espriella condemned the explosion of the Mondomo toll booth.)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The attack on the Mondomo toll booth occurred at approximately 1:48 AM. (The Ministry of Defense reported that the attack on the Mondomo toll booth occurred around 1:48 AM.)