18 killed in twin attacks in Colombia

KABUL (Pajhwok): At least 18 people have been killed and dozens more injured in two attacks in Colombia, both attributed to dissident factions of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), media reports said Friday.

In Cali, the country’s third-largest city, a vehicle packed with explosives detonated on Thursday near a military aviation school, leaving six people dead and 71 others injured, according to the mayor’s office, Al Jazeera reported.

Earlier the same day, a National Police Black Hawk helicopter taking part in a coca leaf eradication operation was downed by a drone in the municipality of Amalfi, Antioquia department, killing 12 police officers.

President Gustavo Petro blamed the assaults on dissident factions of the now-defunct FARC who rejected the 2016 peace agreement that ended decades of internal conflict in which more than 450,000 people were killed.

Petro said on X that the helicopter was transporting personnel to a coca eradication zone in northern Antioquia when it was attacked. Antioquia Governor Andrés Julián confirmed a drone struck the aircraft as it flew over coca fields.

Colombian Defence Minister Pedro Sánchez added that preliminary reports indicated the strike triggered a fire aboard the police helicopter.

sa