An explosive device killed 13 people travelling on a bus in southwestern Colombia on Saturday (local time). Additionally, at least 38 people were reported injured, the news agency AP reported. In a statement given during an interview, the Health Secretary Carolina Camargo of Cauca claimed that five children were among the injured. Octavio Guzman, the governor of the region of Cauca, in a post on X, expressed his solidarity and full commitment towards the investigation. In his post on X, Guzman claimed that the device was set off while the bus was travelling along the Pan-American Highway in the municipality of Cajibio.
This comes at a time when violence linked to drug trafficking in the region escalates. This attack was described as a terrorist act by the country’s army chief. The escalation of violence in that region is a territorial battle contested by illegal armed groups linked to drug trafficking. This has prompted the mobilisation of high-ranking officials on Saturday. Government declares a reward The government has also offered a reward of more than 1 million dollars for information leading to the capture of Marlon, who is identified as the leader of the region’s dissident group. On Friday, local authorities offered more than USD 14,000 for information leading to the identification and location of those behind the attacks in Cali and Palmira. Statements of senior officials
Armed forces official highlights suspicions
Meanwhile, Gen Hugo Lopez, commander of Colombia’s Armed Forces, told a news conference that it was a terrorist act. The official also claimed that the network of a man known as Ivan Mordisco, one of Colombia’s most wanted figures, and the Jaime Martínez faction were behind the incident. Both are dissidents of the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia that operate in the region. Neither Ivan Mordisco nor the Jaime Martínez faction abides by the peace agreement signed with the state in 2016. Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the attack In his post on X, Colombian President Gustavo Petro wrote, “Those who carried out the attack and killed seven civilians and wounded 17 others in Cajibo, many of them Indigenous people, are terrorists, fascists, and drug traffickers.” Previous attacks
This attack is the latest in a spate of explosions that have attempted to target public infrastructure. At least 26 incidents have taken place in the past two days in southwestern Colombia, which Gen Hugo Lopez said have only affected civilians. April 25- These incidents include a shooting at a police station in the rural area of Jamundi, and an attack on a Civil Aviation radar facility in El Tambo, where authorities took down three explosives-laden drones earlier on Saturday. No one was reported hurt.
April 24- On Friday, two vehicles rigged with explosives were detonated near military units in Cali and Palmira, causing material damage.