Briefcase bomb attack in Cúcuta leaves seven wounded near Venezuela border
A briefcase bomb exploded in the Boconó sector, a border zone between Colombia and Venezuela, injuring three police officers and four civilians. Authorities are offering a reward of 50 million pesos.
Explosion in Boconó: intelligence tracks Venezuelan vehicle recorded before the attack
An explosive device concealed in a briefcase wounded seven people—three police officers and four civilians—in the Boconó sector, a border zone of the municipality of Cúcuta, in the early hours of Tuesday 27 October, according to lafm.com.co.
The victims were urgently transported to Erasmo Meoz University Hospital and Medical Duarte Clinic in Cúcuta. The blast wave caused material damage to homes and vehicles in the sector.
The explosion coincided with students entering Padre Luis Variara School, which caused panic among parents and teachers. "We did not know whether to leave our children or take them back home for fear that other devices would be activated," a witness told lafm.com.co.
Carla Martínez, a resident of the sector, described the moment of the explosion: "I was preparing breakfast when we heard a loud explosion that affected the windows and doors of my house. We were afraid to go outside."
Vehicle from Venezuela under investigation
Minutes before the attack, residents of Boconó detected a red Aveo car that entered Colombian territory from the municipality of Ureña, in the state of Táchira (Venezuela). Witnesses indicated that one of the occupants recorded the affected area on video just after the explosion. Colombian intelligence is investigating the connection of that vehicle to the attack.
The Security Secretary of Norte de Santander, Colonel (ret.) George Quintero, acknowledged to lafm.com.co that the perpetrators of the attack have not yet been identified. "In this area there is a presence of various armed groups seeking territorial control of the border, where illegal merchandise moves," the official explained.
The Police and Army acknowledge the active presence of the ELN, FARC dissidents and criminal gangs in the border strip between Colombia and Venezuela. The border trails continue to be used by criminal networks for smuggling, weapons trafficking, drug trafficking and human trafficking, despite controls by the Public Force.
International Bridge closed; reward of 50 million pesos
As a preventive measure, the Francisco de Paula Santander International Bridge was temporarily closed to both vehicles and pedestrians. Canine units with explosive detection dogs inspected the perimeter near the bridge to rule out further threats.
The authorities of Norte de Santander announced a reward of up to 50 million pesos for information that allows them to capture those responsible for the attack.
Given the escalation of violent incidents recorded in recent hours in Cúcuta, authorities strengthened controls on roads, at Camilo Daza airport, at the Transportation Centre and in parks in the city. They also closed the vicinity of the Palace of Justice, the Prosecutor's Office bunker and the commands of the Metropolitan Police of Cúcuta and the Police of Norte de Santander.
In the border zone, the Army and Police increased controls at the other international bridges connecting Colombia with Venezuela: the Simón Bolívar, the Atanasio Girardot and the La Unión bridge.
Source: Google News VE — Crime