At least 18 people were killed and more than 40 others injured on Thursday in Colombia following two violent attacks linked to dissident factions of the former FARC guerrilla movement, according to authorities. The incidents mark one of the deadliest days of violence this year, raising concerns about the country’s fragile peace process.
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In Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city, a cargo truck laden with explosives detonated near a Colombian Aerospace Force base. The blast claimed six lives and left at least 71 others injured, the mayor’s office confirmed. The powerful explosion caused widespread panic and damage in the surrounding area.
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Just hours before the Cali bombing, a National Police Black Hawk UH-60 helicopter was shot down during a coca leaf eradication mission in Amalfi, Antioquia. The attack resulted in the deaths of 12 police officers, highlighting the continued dangers faced by Colombian security forces in remote regions where illegal armed groups remain active.
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President Gustavo Petro condemned the twin attacks, attributing them to dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) that refused to sign the 2016 peace deal. The historic accord had sought to end decades of internal armed conflict that killed more than 450,000 people. Petro vowed that his government would respond firmly while continuing efforts to strengthen national peace and security.
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