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| At least seven dead and 50 wounded as Colombia hit with bombings and gun attacks | At least seven dead and 50 wounded as Colombia hit with bombings and gun attacks |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Police say 19 attacks launched on targets in Cali and nearby areas, hitting police posts, municipal buildings and civilians | Police say 19 attacks launched on targets in Cali and nearby areas, hitting police posts, municipal buildings and civilians |
| Colombia has been rocked by a string of coordinated bomb and gun attacks that killed at least seven people and wounded at least 50 across the country’s south-west, deepening a security crisis roiling the Andean country. | Colombia has been rocked by a string of coordinated bomb and gun attacks that killed at least seven people and wounded at least 50 across the country’s south-west, deepening a security crisis roiling the Andean country. |
| Police said attackers launched 19 attacks on targets in Cali – the country’s third largest city – and several nearby towns, hitting police posts, municipal buildings and civilian targets. | Police said attackers launched 19 attacks on targets in Cali – the country’s third largest city – and several nearby towns, hitting police posts, municipal buildings and civilian targets. |
| The national police chief, Carlos Fernando Triana, said assailants had attacked targets with car bombs, motorcycle bombs, rifle fire and a suspected drone. | The national police chief, Carlos Fernando Triana, said assailants had attacked targets with car bombs, motorcycle bombs, rifle fire and a suspected drone. |
| “There are two police officers dead, and a number of members of the public are also dead,” he said. | “There are two police officers dead, and a number of members of the public are also dead,” he said. |
| In Cali and the towns of Villa Rica, Guachinte and Corinto, AFP journalists witnessed the tangled wreckage of vehicles surrounded by scorched debris. | In Cali and the towns of Villa Rica, Guachinte and Corinto, AFP journalists witnessed the tangled wreckage of vehicles surrounded by scorched debris. |
| The assaults came days after the attempted assassination of a presidential candidate in Bogotá put the country on edge. | The assaults came days after the attempted assassination of a presidential candidate in Bogotá put the country on edge. |
| Many Colombians are fearful of a return to the violence of the 1980s and 1990s, when cartel attacks, guerrilla violence and political assassinations were commonplace. | Many Colombians are fearful of a return to the violence of the 1980s and 1990s, when cartel attacks, guerrilla violence and political assassinations were commonplace. |
| In the town of Corinto, resident Luz Amparo was at home when the blast gutted her bakery. | In the town of Corinto, resident Luz Amparo was at home when the blast gutted her bakery. |
| “We thought it was an earthquake,” she told AFP. “My husband said: ‘No, they are shooting.’” | “We thought it was an earthquake,” she told AFP. “My husband said: ‘No, they are shooting.’” |
| Her phone began to ring off the hook, and she went to check on her store. As she rounded the corner, neighbors began to look in her direction. | Her phone began to ring off the hook, and she went to check on her store. As she rounded the corner, neighbors began to look in her direction. |
| “Everything was levelled,” she said. | “Everything was levelled,” she said. |
| Police and experts blamed Tuesday’s attacks on a dissident faction of the once-powerful Farc guerrilla group. | Police and experts blamed Tuesday’s attacks on a dissident faction of the once-powerful Farc guerrilla group. |
| Security expert Elizabeth Dickenson of the International Crisis Group said the attacks were likely the work of a group known as the Central General Staff (EMC). | Security expert Elizabeth Dickenson of the International Crisis Group said the attacks were likely the work of a group known as the Central General Staff (EMC). |
| “This is a particularly well-coordinated offensive. It really demonstrates the capacity that the group has built,” she told AFP. | “This is a particularly well-coordinated offensive. It really demonstrates the capacity that the group has built,” she told AFP. |
| “And I think very alarmingly it demonstrates their ability to conduct operations in the metropolitan area of Cali.” | “And I think very alarmingly it demonstrates their ability to conduct operations in the metropolitan area of Cali.” |
| Dickenson said the group may be trying to stop an ongoing military operation that is reported to have injured or killed the group’s veteran leader, known as “Iván Mordisco”. | Dickenson said the group may be trying to stop an ongoing military operation that is reported to have injured or killed the group’s veteran leader, known as “Iván Mordisco”. |
| “They are trying to raise the cost of that military initiative for the government,” said Dickenson. | “They are trying to raise the cost of that military initiative for the government,” said Dickenson. |
| In a statement on Tuesday, the EMC warned the public to stay away from military and police installations, but stopped short of claiming responsibility. | In a statement on Tuesday, the EMC warned the public to stay away from military and police installations, but stopped short of claiming responsibility. |
| The attacks come three days after conservative senator Miguel Uribe, 39, was shot twice in the head at close range by an alleged hitman while campaigning in Bogotá. | The attacks come three days after conservative senator Miguel Uribe, 39, was shot twice in the head at close range by an alleged hitman while campaigning in Bogotá. |
| On Tuesday, a 15-year-old pleaded not guilty to carrying out the attempted assassination. The government believes he was a hired gun. | On Tuesday, a 15-year-old pleaded not guilty to carrying out the attempted assassination. The government believes he was a hired gun. |
| Uribe remains in critical condition, the hospital treating him said on Tuesday. | Uribe remains in critical condition, the hospital treating him said on Tuesday. |
| “No family in Colombia should be going through this,” Uribe’s wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, told reporters outside the hospital. “There is no name for this – it’s not pain, it’s not horror, it’s not sadness.” | “No family in Colombia should be going through this,” Uribe’s wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, told reporters outside the hospital. “There is no name for this – it’s not pain, it’s not horror, it’s not sadness.” |