Seven killed in explosion in southwest Colombia, governor reports

Colombia’s Cauca Region Sees Deadly Explosion on Pan-American Highway

A deadly explosion occurred on Saturday in the El Tunel sector of Cajibio, in the southwestern province of Cauca, Colombia, resulting in at least seven fatalities and 20 injuries. According to regional authorities, an explosive device was detonated on the Pan-American Highway.

Governor Octavio Guzman condemned the attack, stating that it was “an indiscriminate attack” against the civilian population. He called for a “decisive, sustained” response from the government against what he described as a “terrorist escalation”.

The incident is part of a series of attacks attributed to criminal groups formed by dissident members of the FARC rebel group, who split with the group following a landmark peace agreement in 2016. Minister of Defence Pedro Sanchez convened a security council in Cali on Saturday to assess the regional security situation.

President Gustavo Petro responded to the explosion, stating that powerful criminal groups are seeking to control the population through fear. He mentioned Ivan Mordisco, a drug trafficker and FARC dissident leader, as being involved in the attack.

The Colombian government has launched an investigation into the incident, with authorities working to determine the details of the attack. The region’s security situation remains under scrutiny, with regional authorities calling for increased action against criminal groups.

Source: Al Jazeera