2 children killed in FARC attack on Colombian police

A five-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy were killed during a terrorist bomb attack against a Police Immediate Attention Command (CAI) post south of the Colombian capital, Bogota, Colombian authorities reported on Monday.

Saturday night’s attack against  the CAI in the Arborizadora Alta neighborhood of Ciudad Bolivar, one of the capital’s poorest neighborhoods, left 35 bystanders injured and killed 12-year-old Daniel Estiven Duque Buitrago and 5-year-old Ivanna Salome Rangel Molina.

 In a video published across social media, dissidents from FARC’s 33rd front claimed responsibility for the attack. The group’s commander, known as Arley, stated that the attack was carried out to “celebrate the anniversary” of FARC founder Manuel Marulanda Vélez, alias Tirofijo, Semana reported.

The blast also caused structural damage to 66 homes and four schools. Bogota Mayor Claudia Lopez condemned the attack and said she lamented the death of the minors and the injuries suffered by civilians and two police officers.

"We mourn with the family of Daniel Stiven, we will accompany them in their grief, in their pain, but we will also accompany them in making sure that there is justice," said Lopez.

Rechazamos toda violencia y ataque criminal contra cualquier ciudadano, pero nos duele mucho más la muerte infame de niños inocentes. Unión solidaria con las víctimas, unión en rechazo a la violencia y por la justicia. Unión y no manipulación coyuntural es lo que debemos lograr. pic.twitter.com/2AjPa3RvZA

— Claudia López Hernández (@ClaudiaLopez) March 28, 2022

FARC dissidents behind the attack

According to intelligence acquired by Semana, Arley is the commander of the terrorist group in Norte de Santander along the border with Venezuela and did not orchestrate the attack. Instead, Colombian authorities have revealed that the leader of the 33rd front, Javier Alonso Veloza Garcia, known as Jhon Mechas, was responsible for the crime.

A report from El Tiempo also reveals that FARC groups also clashed with public security forces in the municipality of La Gabarra in Norte de Santander. According to the outlet, there is a recording where a man can be heard giving instructions for activities including the blocking of roads and the coordinated attack of police officers and the Colombian army.

Last year, the group also claimed responsibility for an attack against an army brigade in Cucuta and against the helicopter in which President Ivan Duque was traveling.

The U.S. government has offered a $5 million reward for information leading to the whereabouts of Jhon Mechas – an added bonus to the 3 billion pesos the Colombian government is already offering.

A los criminales de las disidencias de las Farc E-33, en cabeza de Javier Alonso Veloza García, alias 'John Mechas', que de manera cínica y repudiable se atribuyen el acto terrorista contra el CAI de Arborizadora Alta en Bogotá, les aseguramos: caerán y responderán ante la ley. pic.twitter.com/DFp13lsc4g

— General Jorge Luis Vargas Valencia (@DirectorPolicia) March 28, 2022