Surge in Violence in Colombia Leaves Four Dead Amid Escalating Attacks

The recent wave of violence in Colombia, attributed to armed groups including FARC, highlights a deteriorating security situation as multiple regions are struck by coordinated attacks.

At least four fatalities have been reported following a series of coordinated bomb and gun assaults across southwestern Colombia, with local media detailing the tragic events. Among those killed are two police officers, as the violence erupted in Cali, the nation's third-largest city, along with several surrounding towns.

Authorities have indicated that car bombs, motorcycle IEDs, and rifle fire were utilized to target police stations, municipal buildings, and civilian areas, reflecting a worrisome trend of increasing insecurity in Colombia. Links have been suggested between these attacks and factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a notorious guerrilla organization that previously held considerable power in the region. However, these claims have yet to be independently verified by the BBC.

The Colombian Ministry of Defence confirmed a total of 19 attacks across the southwestern regions, attributing the escalation to illegal armed groups' desperate response to extensive military and police operations aimed at dismantling their operations and financial undertakings. Reports indicate that twelve of these assaults occurred in the Cauca region while the remaining seven were in Valle del Cauca.

This surge in violence comes shortly after an assassination attempt on presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay while he was campaigning in Bogota. The mayor of Cali has drawn parallels between the current crises and the violent era of the late 1980s, when drug cartels wreaked havoc across the country. The situation continues to evolve as authorities strive to regain control amidst the escalating chaos.