Bombing targets Colombian army post on Venezuela border
Bogota, Jun 15 (EFE).- A car packed with explosives was detonated Tuesday inside the compound of the Colombian army’s 30th Brigade in Cucuta, on the border with Venezuela, President Ivan Duque said.
The defense minister, Diego Molano, referred to “explosions” in a tweet announcing that he was leaving for to Cucuta, capital of Norte de Santander province, to take charge of the situation.
Bogota daily El Tiempo said that 36 people were wounded in a pair of car-bomb blasts at the garrison.
Gen. Marcos Pinto, commander of the 2nd Division, which includes the 30th Brigade, told BluRadio that the “terrorist attack” involved two explosions and that three of the 22 people hurt were in serious condition.
Soldiers stationed at the garrison said that part of the area affected by the blasts was empty because a portion of the brigade is in quarantine with Covid-19.
Municipal police and firefighters were at the scene along with investigators from the Attorney General’s Office. The road leading to the brigade headquarters was closed and helicopters patrolled the sky above the base.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack.
On Jan. 17, 2019, a car-bombing carried out by National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas at the national police academy in Bogota left 22 people dead and 67 others injured. EFE ocm/dr
