Bomb attack on Colombian highway kills 19 ahead of national election

Colombia Highway Bombing Leaves 19 Dead, Dozens Injured Ahead of Presidential Election

A bomb attack on the Pan-American Highway in southwestern Colombia’s Cauca department has resulted in 19 fatalities and at least 38 injuries, according to officials. The incident occurred on Saturday, with buses and vans left severely damaged by the blast.

The National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences reported that it had begun examining 19 bodies, while the governor initially stated a death toll of 14. Military chief Hugo Lopez confirmed that the bomb exploded after assailants blocked traffic by stopping a bus and another vehicle on the road.

This latest attack comes ahead of Colombia’s upcoming presidential election, scheduled for May 31. The violence has been linked to recent incidents, including a bombing at a military base in Cali, which injured two people, and a string of attacks in the Valle del Cauca and Cauca departments over the past two days.

According to Lopez, 26 attacks have been recorded in the affected areas since Friday. Authorities have increased security presence in the regions, with Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez stating that measures are being taken to address security concerns.

The presidential election will see a range of candidates vying for office, including leftist Senator Ivan Cepeda and right-wing contenders Abelardo de la Espriella and Paloma Valencia. The campaign has been marked by reports of death threats against several candidates, who are campaigning under heavy security measures.

Source: Al Jazeera