A bomb explosion on a highway in southwestern Colombia has killed at least 19 people and injured at least 38 others, including five children, officials said. The attack occurred about a month before the presidential election.
What happened
The blast struck the Pan-American Highway in the municipality of Cajibio in Cauca province. Local reports say an explosive cylinder fell onto a minibus and detonated. Images shared by Governor Octavio Guzmán showed heavy damage to several vehicles, multiple overturned, and a large crater in the roadway. Guzmán called the event a tragedy and warned of a growing wave of terrorism in the region.
Who is blamed
President Gustavo Petro accused Ivan Mordisco, a wanted drug trafficker and a former member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) who rejected the 2016 peace agreement, of responsibility for the attack. Petro denounced those responsible as terrorists, fascists and drug traffickers, and compared Mordisco to the late drug lord Pablo Escobar.
Context and response
Authorities say the explosion is part of a recent surge of attacks on public infrastructure in southwestern Colombia. The commander of the armed forces, Hugo López, reported at least 26 incidents over two days in Valle del Cauca and Cauca departments that affected civilians. Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez traveled to the area to assess security after two attacks in Valle del Cauca the day before the Cajibio blast.
The string of incidents comes ahead of presidential elections scheduled for May 31, making security a central campaign issue. Right-wing opposition candidate Paloma Valencia, who is from Cauca and a member of the Democratic Center party, called for immediate action, stronger support for the armed forces and police, and concrete results, accusing the government of minimizing violence and weakening the state.