17 Killed in Car Bomb & Attack on Helicopter in Colombia
Tragedy struck Colombia on Thursday as a devastating car bomb attack and a separate attack on a police helicopter left at least 17 people dead. The attacks, attributed to dissidents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), have sent shockwaves through the country and sparked widespread condemnation.
According to reports, the car bomb attack occurred in the town of Tumaco, located in the southwestern department of Nariño. The blast ripped through the town’s main square, leaving destruction and chaos in its wake. At least 12 people were killed and many more injured in the attack, which was carried out using a vehicle packed with explosives.
Just hours later, a police helicopter was downed in the town of El Charco, also in Nariño department. The attack, which was reportedly carried out using a rocket-propelled grenade, killed around 12 police officers who were on board the helicopter.
President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in June, quickly attributed both attacks to dissidents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The FARC, once one of the largest and most powerful leftist guerrilla groups in Colombia, disarmed and demobilized in 2017 as part of a historic peace deal with the government.
However, since then, some former FARC fighters have refused to lay down their arms and have instead formed new groups, known as “dissident” or “post-conflict” armed groups. These groups have continued to carry out attacks on civilians and security forces, undermining the fragile peace process and threatening to destabilize the country.
The attacks in Tumaco and El Charco are just the latest in a series of violent incidents that have plagued Colombia in recent months. In July, a car bomb attack in the city of Cali killed 21 people and injured dozens more. In June, a bomb was detonated outside a police station in the city of Barranquilla, killing four people and injuring many more.
The Colombian government has vowed to take action to combat the growing threat posed by these armed groups and to bring those responsible for the attacks to justice. In a statement, President Petro condemned the attacks and vowed to work with international partners to dismantle the networks behind them.
“We will not tolerate these attacks on our people and our institutions,” President Petro said. “We will work tirelessly to identify and punish those responsible, and to bring peace and security to all Colombians.”
The international community has also condemned the attacks, with many governments and organizations calling for an end to violence and for the perpetrators to be held accountable.
The attacks in Tumaco and El Charco have sent shockwaves through Colombia and have left many wondering what the future holds for the country. With the peace process under threat and violence on the rise, it remains to be seen whether the government will be able to stem the tide of violence and bring lasting peace to the country.
Sources:
https://amp.dw.com/en/colombia-truck-bomb-helicopter-downing-kill-at-least-17/a-73726663
