Two explosive attacks were recorded in Colombia in the last few hours, shortly after Abelardo de la Espriella assumed the presidency of the country.
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One of the incidents occurred at the San Roque Police Substation, in Curumaní, Cesar department, where Deputy Superintendent Rodelo Canchila died as a result of injuries caused by an explosion.
According to information provided by the Cesar Government, the attack was allegedly carried out using explosive drones. The investigation line has not yet produced suspects.
After the incident, De la Espriella assured that those responsible will be pursued.
“This crime will not go unpunished. The responsible parties will be found and will face the full weight of the law. Every attack against our Public Force men only strengthens our determination to defeat terrorism and restore peace to Colombians,” the president stated on social media.
In another attack, an explosion occurred at the Mandiva toll booth, located on the Pan-American highway, in southwestern Colombia.
According to the Army, two guards who were protecting the infrastructure suffered minor injuries.
According to the account of one of the guards included in the report, the attack involved the detonation of a vehicle that had been abandoned by a person, who later fled on a motorcycle.
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Preliminary information from the Army indicates that the attack was likely perpetrated by the Dagoberto Ramos and Jaime Martínez factions, belonging to the dissidents of the defunct guerrilla group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) who did not adhere to the peace agreement signed a decade ago with the State.
Military personnel remain guarding the area and, along with trained dogs, are patrolling the sector to rule out the presence of other explosive devices.
The Minister of Transport, Elsa Noguera, condemned the “terrorist attack” and stated that efforts are underway to restore mobility.
“Colombia will not kneel before violence nor will it allow the destruction of the works that connect our regions,” she said.
The attack occurred on the road connecting the departments of Cauca and Valle del Cauca. In Cali, the capital of the latter department, De la Espriella had taken his oath and warned illegal groups that “they have two paths: submit to the rule of law or face the public force.”
