Seven killed in explosion in southwestern Colombia region

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 incident as 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”. A video shared by the governor showed the aftermath of the bombing, with ambulances on site and damaged vehicles and debris covering the road.

The incident is part of a series of attacks that took place on Friday, attributed to criminal groups formed by dissident members of the FARC rebel group. Minister of Defence Pedro Sanchez convened a security council in Cali to assess the regional security situation when the latest attack occurred.

President Gustavo Petro stated that powerful criminal groups are seeking to control the population through fear. He also mentioned Ivan Mordisco, a drug trafficker and FARC dissident leader, as a suspect in the attack. The government is currently pursuing maximum worldwide pursuit against this individual.

Regional authorities have reported similar incidents in other areas, including El Tambo, Caloto, Popayan, Guachene, Mercaderes, and Miranda.

Source: Al Jazeera