Bomb attack on village bus in Colombia: 14 dead, 38 injured
At least 14 people have died and 38 were injured after a bomb planted on a highway was detonated as a village bus was passing by in Colombia.
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In the town of Cajibio, located in the Cauca department in southwestern Colombia, a bomb placed in a culvert on the Pan-American Highway detonated as vehicles were passing. It was reported that the explosion occurred during a period of heavy traffic.
CASUALTIES AND INJURED REPORTED
At least 14 people lost their lives in the attack, and 38 others were injured, some critically. Eyewitnesses reported that the force of the explosion was felt over a wide area and caused widespread panic in the vicinity.
VILLAGE BUS REDUCED TO WRECKAGE
The traditional village bus, known locally as a "chiva," was rendered unusable by the force of the blast. The violent explosion also caused damage to other nearby vehicles and created a large crater in the highway.
STERN ACCUSATION FROM PETRO
Colombian President Gustavo Petro, in a statement made via social media, blamed the attack on Ivan Mordisco, the leader of the Estado Mayor Central (EMC), an umbrella organization of the FARC.
Petro instructed the armed forces to increase operations, stating, "Those who target civilians in Cajibio are terrorists, fascists, and drug traffickers. I want an international-level pursuit initiated against this narco-terrorist group."
SECOND ATTACK IN CALI
Meanwhile, it was reported that 2 people were injured in a separate attack carried out with a bus loaded with explosives near a military base in the city of Cali.