Alarm in Colombia before the handover: 'Explosives' warning in Cali

A security alarm has been raised in Colombia ahead of the presidential handover. President Gustavo Petro warned that a bomb attack could be carried out in the city of Cali, where the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella, who will take office on August 7, is set to take place.

In a post on his X account, Petro claimed that "dozens of tons of explosives" were present in Cali. Without sharing details, Petro alleged that drug trafficking groups are planning terrorist acts to create a pretext for declaring a state of emergency that would affect general life.

''We know of the existence of dozens of tons of explosives in Cali. Drug trafficking groups want to organize terrorist acts to create a pretext for declaring a state of emergency that would affect general life.''

According to information in the national press, extensive security measures will be taken in Cali due to De la Espriella's inauguration ceremony. More than 11 thousand police and soldiers are expected to be on duty in the city against the presence of armed groups.

Petro will hand over the office on August 7 to De la Espriella, whose election victory he did not recognize. The Colombian President also called on the opposition to hold demonstrations in Cali, Barranquilla, and Bogota for the inauguration ceremony.

Petro, who announced that he would lead the "toughest" opposition against De la Espriella after his term ends, had argued that there were irregularities in the presidential election on June 21. Petro had applied to the judiciary on July 22 with a request to cancel the election.

Right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella finished the elections with a narrow margin ahead of the ruling party's left-wing candidate Ivan Cepeda. De la Espriella is scheduled to take over the office from Petro on August 7.