A good month before the presidential election in Colombia, at least seven civilians were killed in a bomb attack, according to authorities.
April 26, 2026, 05:21April 26, 2026, 05:21
“There are no words sufficient to describe the pain we feel today,” said the governor of Cauca, Octavio Guzmán, via the X platform.
The wreckage of the minibus.Image: keystone
According to Guzmán, the attack occurred in the town of Cajibío in southwest Colombia. According to media reports, an explosive cylinder fell on a minibus and exploded. Significant damage to several vehicles could be seen in images shared by the governor on X. More than 20 people were seriously injured, Guzmán wrote. The governor spoke of a “tragedy,” warned of a “terrorist escalation” and called for decisive government action.
The newspaper “El Tiempo”, citing eyewitnesses, reported that armed men had previously stopped and blocked vehicles on the road. The investigating authorities initially did not provide any official information about possible suspects.
President Gustavo Petro spoke of terrorism in connection with the incident. He described the perpetrators as “terrorists, fascists and drug traffickers” and blamed dissidents from the former FARC guerrillas who did not recognize the 2016 peace agreement.
Tense security situation with several attacks
The attack hits Colombia in a tense security situation a few weeks before the presidential election on May 31st. There was already a series of coordinated attacks in the west of the country on Friday. According to consistent reports, a vehicle exploded near a military base in the tourist town of Cali, while other detonations occurred near a military facility in the neighboring town of Palmira. No deaths were reported.
The authorities also blame dissidents from the former FARC guerrillas for this. The groups remain among the main actors of violence in the region. The security situation is one of the central issues in the election campaign. (sda/dpa)