Seven people have been killed and multiple others injured in a series of coordinated bombings and armed assaults across southwest Colombia, authorities confirmed. The attacks, which authorities attribute to a dissident faction of the FARC guerrilla group, targeted police facilities and civilian areas, highlighting a concerning escalation of violence in the region.
The incident involved at least 19 separate attacks that unfolded across the Cauca and Valle del Cauca regions, known hubs for illicit activities. Weapons employed included car bombs, motorcycle bombs, rifle fire, and suspected drone attacks.
"The device was activated while the bus was traveling along the Panamerican Highway in Cajibio," stated Octavio Guzmán, the governor of Cauca, regarding one of the incidents. He also noted that more than 17 individuals were injured in this particular event.
The scale of violence prompted Francisca Toro, governor of Valle del Cauca, to issue an appeal to the national government for "immediate support," including enhanced security forces, intelligence operations, and "decisive actions" against criminal elements. She characterized the situation as a "terrorist-level escalation."
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Colombian President Gustavo Petro has decried the attacks, with authorities specifically pointing to a dissident faction known as the Central General Staff (EMC), a group linked to the former FARC guerrilla movement, as responsible.
Background of Unrest
These attacks follow a pattern of escalating violence in the region. Previous incidents in the days leading up to this event saw two vehicles rigged with explosives detonated near military units in Cali and Palmira, causing material damage but no reported fatalities in those specific instances.
The regions of Cauca and Valle del Cauca are frequently cited by authorities as critical transit points and operational areas for illegal armed groups, contributing to the persistent instability. The nature of the attacks, targeting both law enforcement and civilian infrastructure, underscores a widening campaign of disruption.
