On Tuesday, multiple explosions and shootings occurred in southwestern Colombia, primarily targeting police and government institutions, resulting in at least 7 deaths and 50 injuries. Authorities believe that the coordinated series of explosions constitutes a “terrorist attack.”
The Colombian military stated on Tuesday that over twenty coordinated attacks took place in and around Cali, the country’s third-largest city. The targets included police checkpoints, municipal buildings, and civilian facilities, with the police being the “direct target” of the attacks.
Carlos Fernando Triana, the director of the Colombian National Police, reported that the suspects utilized car bombs, motorcycle bombs, gunfire, and suspected drones to carry out the assaults. So far, 7 individuals have lost their lives, including two police officers and multiple civilians, with the injured comprising civilians, military personnel, and police officers.
Later on Tuesday, Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder mentioned that three explosive devices were detonated in the city center, but the situation is currently “under control.” He also stated that he had ordered the deployment of security forces throughout the city.
Colombian authorities and experts attribute this series of attacks to the anti-government armed group known as the “Central Staff of the Estado Mayor Central.”
The Central Staff of the Estado Mayor Central is the largest branch of the former Colombian largest anti-government armed group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). FARC signed a peace agreement with the government in 2016 and officially established a political party in 2017. However, some members within the party opposed the ceasefire with the government and formed separate factions, with the Central Staff of the FARC being one of them.
President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, has made several unsuccessful attempts to reach peace agreements with the Central Staff of the FARC and other armed groups.
Elizabeth Dickenson, a security expert from the International Crisis Group, told AFP that this was a highly coordinated assault that “truly demonstrates the capabilities of the organization.” She added, “What is more worrying is that this indicates they are capable of operating in the major metropolitan area of Cali.”
However, the Central Staff of the FARC has not claimed responsibility for the attacks. Nonetheless, the organization’s statement on Tuesday accused the Colombian government of betraying the peace process and warned the public to stay away from military and police facilities.
Sergio Guzman, the founder of the risk consultancy firm Colombia Risk Analysis based in Bogota, told CNN that these attacks indicate that criminal armed groups are “attempting to further pressure the government to make more commitments or concessions.”
Just three days before the bombing attacks, 39-year-old conservative Colombian senator Miguel Uribe was shot in the head twice during an election rally in the capital city of Bogota. As of Tuesday morning, Uribe remains in critical condition.
The attempted assassination of Uribe has placed Colombia on high alert. Many Colombians are now concerned that the country may return to the levels of violence seen in the 1980s and 1990s, characterized by drug cartel attacks, guerrilla violence, and political assassinations.
Reportedly, President Gustavo Petro and Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez will convene the highest-level security council meeting in Cali, the capital of the Cauca Valley province, on Wednesday, June 11, to address the “escalating terrorism threat.”