This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/news/527651-colombia-president-helicopter-attack/
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Helicopter carrying Colombia’s president & top government ministers comes under fire (VIDEOS) | Helicopter carrying Colombia’s president & top government ministers comes under fire (VIDEOS) |
| (2 months later) | |
| A helicopter transporting Colombian President Ivan Duque and a number of top officials was fired upon by unknown assailants who reportedly hit the craft several times, in what the head of state denounced as a “cowardly attack.” | A helicopter transporting Colombian President Ivan Duque and a number of top officials was fired upon by unknown assailants who reportedly hit the craft several times, in what the head of state denounced as a “cowardly attack.” |
| The incident unfolded near the Camilo Daza airport in the city of Cucuta on Friday as Duque and other officials returned from a meeting in a nearby town, according to local media reports. The president himself confirmed the attack later on Friday, stating that he had “instructed the security forces to go after those who shot at the aircraft and put lives at risk.” | The incident unfolded near the Camilo Daza airport in the city of Cucuta on Friday as Duque and other officials returned from a meeting in a nearby town, according to local media reports. The president himself confirmed the attack later on Friday, stating that he had “instructed the security forces to go after those who shot at the aircraft and put lives at risk.” |
| “It was a cowardly attack. As a government we are not going to falter for a single minute, not a single day, in the fight against drug trafficking, terrorism and against organized crime groups that operate in the country,” Duque’s statement continued. | “It was a cowardly attack. As a government we are not going to falter for a single minute, not a single day, in the fight against drug trafficking, terrorism and against organized crime groups that operate in the country,” Duque’s statement continued. |
| Unconfirmed footage has emerged online purporting to show the moment the helicopter came under attack, with what sounds like small arms fire ringing out some distance away as the craft passed overhead. Other photos and videos circulating in local media captured the state of the helicopter afterward, showing several holes punched in the vehicle, including in one of its propellers and a panel covering its engine. | Unconfirmed footage has emerged online purporting to show the moment the helicopter came under attack, with what sounds like small arms fire ringing out some distance away as the craft passed overhead. Other photos and videos circulating in local media captured the state of the helicopter afterward, showing several holes punched in the vehicle, including in one of its propellers and a panel covering its engine. |
| Nobody was injured in the assault and the craft was able to land without incident, the president’s office confirmed, though media reports said the chopper was struck five or six times. In addition to Duque, the helicopter also carried Defense Minister Diego Molano and Interior Minister Daniel Palacios, as well as Silvano Serrano, governor of Norte de Santander, and Cucuta Mayor Jairo Yanez. | Nobody was injured in the assault and the craft was able to land without incident, the president’s office confirmed, though media reports said the chopper was struck five or six times. In addition to Duque, the helicopter also carried Defense Minister Diego Molano and Interior Minister Daniel Palacios, as well as Silvano Serrano, governor of Norte de Santander, and Cucuta Mayor Jairo Yanez. |
| As authorities investigate the attack and search for suspects, all flights at the Camilo Daza airport were suspended, El Spectador reported. So far, no individual or organization has claimed responsibility for the helicopter attack, nor have officials pinned blame on any actor. | As authorities investigate the attack and search for suspects, all flights at the Camilo Daza airport were suspended, El Spectador reported. So far, no individual or organization has claimed responsibility for the helicopter attack, nor have officials pinned blame on any actor. |
| At the time of the incident, Duque and the other officials were returning from a visit to the town of Sardinata to discuss local investment projects and the fight against drug trafficking in the region. Several criminal groups are known to operate in Norte de Santander state, where both Cucuta and Sardinata are located, as well as remnants of the FARC rebel faction and active cells of the ELN, another armed guerilla group. | At the time of the incident, Duque and the other officials were returning from a visit to the town of Sardinata to discuss local investment projects and the fight against drug trafficking in the region. Several criminal groups are known to operate in Norte de Santander state, where both Cucuta and Sardinata are located, as well as remnants of the FARC rebel faction and active cells of the ELN, another armed guerilla group. |
| While FARC, or the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, struck a major peace deal with the government in 2016 and agreed to lay down its arms after decades of fighting, break-off factions continue to operate in rural areas of Colombia, particularly in Norte de Santander, which borders Venezuela. | While FARC, or the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, struck a major peace deal with the government in 2016 and agreed to lay down its arms after decades of fighting, break-off factions continue to operate in rural areas of Colombia, particularly in Norte de Santander, which borders Venezuela. |
| The helicopter attack follows a series of intense protests across the country, sparked off in late April by a controversial tax reform introduced by Duque. While the proposal has since been withdrawn, demonstrations continued over the government’s response to prior rallies, which saw more than a dozen protesters killed in clashes with riot police. Two officers and one police detective also lost their lives in the unrest, according to Human Rights Watch. | The helicopter attack follows a series of intense protests across the country, sparked off in late April by a controversial tax reform introduced by Duque. While the proposal has since been withdrawn, demonstrations continued over the government’s response to prior rallies, which saw more than a dozen protesters killed in clashes with riot police. Two officers and one police detective also lost their lives in the unrest, according to Human Rights Watch. |
| While protest organizers declared an end to the regular demonstrations last week, a major union leader warned on Thursday that they could reignite if the government did not meet protesters’ demands, which center on economic reforms for low-income communities, as well as charges of police brutality. | While protest organizers declared an end to the regular demonstrations last week, a major union leader warned on Thursday that they could reignite if the government did not meet protesters’ demands, which center on economic reforms for low-income communities, as well as charges of police brutality. |
| Friday’s apparent shoot-down attempt also comes after two car bombs were detonated outside a military facility in Cucuta earlier this month, leaving 36 injured, including two American military advisers stationed at the base. While Defense Minister Molano said the government’s “initial hypothesis” pointed toward ELN involvement, the rebel group later denied any role in the attack. | Friday’s apparent shoot-down attempt also comes after two car bombs were detonated outside a military facility in Cucuta earlier this month, leaving 36 injured, including two American military advisers stationed at the base. While Defense Minister Molano said the government’s “initial hypothesis” pointed toward ELN involvement, the rebel group later denied any role in the attack. |
| Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! | Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! |
| Dear readers and commenters, | |
| We have implemented a new engine for our comment section. We hope the transition goes smoothly for all of you. Unfortunately, the comments made before the change have been lost due to a technical problem. We are working on restoring them, and hoping to see you fill up the comment section with new ones. You should still be able to log in to comment using your social-media profiles, but if you signed up under an RT profile before, you are invited to create a new profile with the new commenting system. | |
| Sorry for the inconvenience, and looking forward to your future comments, | |
| RT Team. |