BLOODY DAY – Bomb Blitz Kills Cops!
At least seven people, including two police officers, were killed when a wave of coordinated bomb and gun attacks hit police stations in Cali, Colombia and surrounding regions, prompting fears of escalating rebel violence.
At a Glance
• Seven people died and 28 were injured in a series of vehicle and motorcycle bombings near police stations in Cali, Cauca and Valle del Cauca.
• A total of 24 explosive and firearm incidents occurred in southwestern Colombia on June 10, police say.
• Authorities blamed the dissident FARC‑EMC guerrilla faction for orchestrating the attacks.
• The bombings came days after presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay was shot in Bogotá.
• The government has launched joint security operations and offered a reward for information on perpetrators.
Coordinated Bombings Unleashed
On June 10, explosive devices hidden in cars and motorcycles detonated near police stations in neighborhoods including Meléndez and Los Mangos, killing seven people and wounding 28 others, among them civilians and security personnel. The Colombian National Police confirmed 24 coordinated incidents across southwestern Colombia, spanning Cauca and Valle del Cauca. Cali also endured gunfire and grenade attacks, stirring fears of urban guerrilla resurgence.
Watch a report: Multiple Explosions Rock Southwestern Colombia
FARC‑EMC Named as Primary Suspect
Authorities swiftly identified the FARC‑EMC faction, a dissident group that rejected the 2016 peace deal, as orchestrating the attacks. These militants have capitalized on zones vacated by the demobilized FARC to reassert territorial control. In response, the Petro administration launched a joint military-police operation and offered a 300-million-peso reward for information leading to arrests.
Political Violence and Security Breakdown
The bombings came just three days after presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay survived an assassination attempt in Bogotá. Critics argue these events expose the collapse of President Petro’s “total peace” policy, a plan intended to demobilize rebel factions via negotiation.
Observers from The Times say the resulting power vacuum has been exploited by armed groups, raising concerns of a return to large-scale conflict. Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder vowed to prevent a regression into the violent past, but uncertainty reigns.
What’s Next?
Colombia now faces dual crises: an internal security emergency and a crisis of political credibility that threatens stability. Can the government effectively neutralize FARC‑EMC’s aggressive campaign while salvaging its peace agenda? Will ongoing attacks potentially derail the crucial 2026 election cycle?
The stakes are huge and immediate for both citizens and leaders. What happens next could dictate Colombia’s trajectory for years, impacting socio-economic development and international relations significantly.