17 Killed in Car Bomb & Attack on Helicopter in Colombia
Colombia has been rocked by a devastating attack on Thursday, leaving at least 17 people dead and many more injured. The attack consisted of a car bomb explosion in the town of Tumaco, as well as an attack on a police helicopter in the same region. The incidents have sent shockwaves across the country, with President Gustavo Petro attributing both attacks to dissidents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a now-defunct leftist guerrilla group.
According to reports, the car bomb exploded in the town of Tumaco, located in the southwestern region of Colombia, around 10:30 am local time. The blast caused significant damage to buildings and infrastructure in the area, with many people injured in the attack.
In a separate incident, a police helicopter was shot down in the same region, killing around 12 police officers on board. The helicopter was on a mission to provide support to ground troops in the area when it came under attack.
The attack on the helicopter is believed to have been carried out by dissidents of the FARC, a group that was involved in a decades-long conflict with the Colombian government before disarming in 2017. The group has been accused of carrying out numerous attacks on civilians and security forces in recent years.
President Gustavo Petro has vowed to take action against the perpetrators of the attacks, saying that the government will not tolerate such acts of violence. “We will not hesitate to take the necessary measures to ensure the security and stability of our country,” he said in a statement.
The attacks have sparked widespread outrage in Colombia, with many calling for greater action to be taken against the perpetrators of the violence. The country has been struggling to rebuild since the end of the civil war, and the recent attacks have dealt a significant blow to its fragile peace process.
The incident has also raised concerns about the security situation in the region. Tumaco has been a hotspot for violence in recent years, with gangs and drug traffickers operating in the area. The attack on the helicopter has also raised concerns about the vulnerability of the country’s security forces.
The Colombian government has launched an investigation into the attacks, with authorities working to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice. The country’s attorney general has announced that he will be seeking to charge those responsible with murder, terrorism, and other serious crimes.
As the investigation continues, the people of Colombia are left to mourn the loss of life and to wonder how these attacks could have occurred. The attacks are a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges facing the country, and the need for greater action to be taken to ensure the security and stability of its citizens.
Source: https://amp.dw.com/en/colombia-truck-bomb-helicopter-downing-kill-at-least-17/a-73726663
