A series of bomb and gun attacks in south-western Colombia has resulted in the deaths of at least seven individuals, as reported by local media outlets.
Among the casualties are two police officers, with the violence primarily striking Cali, the nation’s third-largest city, along with several surrounding areas.
Witnesses reported that the assaults involved the use of car bombs, motorcycle bombs, rifle fire, and possibly a drone. The Colombian Ministry of Defence confirmed that a total of 19 attacks were executed.
Some sources have attributed these violent incidents to a faction of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a once-prominent guerrilla organization, though this has not been independently verified by the BBC.
The targeted locations included police stations, municipal buildings, and civilians, underscoring a growing security crisis in the South American nation. Reports indicate that the death toll stands at seven, with injuries ranging from 28 to over 50.
According to the Ministry of Defence, 12 attacks occurred in the Cauca region and seven in Valle del Cauca, characterizing the shift in violence as a desperate response from illegal armed groups facing military and police operations that have severely impacted their illegal operations.
The mayor of Cali compared the current situation to the violent drug trade and cartel activity of 1989, as the region struggles with escalating unrest. These incidents follow a failed assassination attempt on presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay earlier this week.
Source: www.bbc.com
