At least five dead and dozens injured in Cali blast
According to the authorities, at least five people were killed and dozens of wounded after a car bomb exploded on a busy street in the Western city in Colombia.
The explosion targeted Marco Fidel Suarez Military Aviation School in the north of the city, and the first reports shows that 36 people were injured.
Mayor of Cali Alejandro Edir condemned the attack and offered a prize For information about those responsible.
Early on Thursday, a separate attack against a police helicopter killed at least 12 people in a rural area outside the northwest Medellin city.
According to eyewitnesses, the car bomb in Cali killed civilians on the street and damaged many homes.
“Something exploding near the air base had a violent voice.”
A few buildings and schools were released and the mayor announced the prohibition of large trucks entering the city.
Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez called the explosion “terrorist attack” and accused “Narco Cartel Plug name Mordisco” – referring to the guerrilla leader Ivan Mordisco, the Colombia Revolutionary Forces (FARC), who is currently destroyed.
“This cowardly attack against civilians is a desperate response to the loss of control over drug trafficking in Valle Del Cauca, Cauca and Nariño, in which public power neutralizes most of this threat.” He said.
President Gustavo Petro, who appealed to a separate attack on a police helicopter, said he was in the task of destroying coca leaf plants, the main component of the aircraft.
The helicopter hit the ground after he was shot by a drone.
At least 12 people, including police officers, died, but it was unclear whether they died in the accident or on the ground.
Images circulating on social media showed thick black smoke feathers in a forested area of Amalfi in the north of the country.
Sánchez said the attack was carried out by the EMC guerrilla group, the biggest branch of the FARC.
In recent months, Colombia has experienced an increase in violence, including conflicts between security forces and opposition rebels, paramilitary or drug gangs.
Drone attacks have also become widespread in recent years: in 2024, such attacks have been recorded in the country, most of them were carried out by illegal armed groups.
Last week, three soldiers were killed in a drone attack in the southwest of the country, where explosive devices were dropped to the navy and army members who managed a checkpoint.
