Colombia Highway Bomb Attack Kills At Least 19

A fatal bombing struck the Pan-American Highway in Cajibio, Cauca province, southwest Colombia, resulting in the deaths of 19 individuals and injuring 38 others, including five minors. The attack, which occurred on Saturday, marks a troubling escalation in violence affecting the region. Authorities have attributed the incident to Ivan Mordisco, a former FARC guerrilla now aligned with drug trafficking networks.

Escalating Threats to Public Infrastructure

Over the past two days, 26 explosive attacks have targeted public infrastructure in Valle del Cauca and Cauca departments. These incidents, which have exclusively impacted civilians, have prompted the deployment of high-ranking officials, including Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez, to evaluate the situation. Sanchez was present in Cali to address the aftermath of Friday’s attacks when Saturday’s explosion unfolded.

Governor Condemns Rising Violence

Octavio Guzman, the regional governor, labeled the incident a “tragedy” and warned of an impending “terrorist escalation.” Visual evidence shared on X revealed severe vehicle damage, with several cars overturned and a prominent crater carved into the highway. The attack underscores growing instability in the area, which has seen sustained violence in recent days.

“President Gustavo Petro’s government cannot continue minimizing the violence or dismantling the state,” said Paloma Valencia, a right-wing opposition candidate from Cauca. “We demand immediate action, full backing for our Armed Forces and police, and concrete results.”

Petro has directly blamed Mordisco, a dissident of the disbanded FARC group, for the attack. He characterized the perpetrators as “terrorists, fascists and drug traffickers,” drawing parallels between Mordisco and the late drug lord Pablo Escobar. Mordisco, who rejected the 2016 peace agreement with the state, operates in the region as a key figure in organized crime.

The timing of the attacks aligns with the upcoming presidential election on May 31, where security concerns dominate the political discourse. With tensions heightening, the government faces pressure to address the growing threat to public safety and stabilize the region ahead of the vote.

To view this video, enable JavaScript and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video