At least four individuals have lost their lives in a series of bomb and gun attacks in south-western Colombia, local reports say.
Two officers from the police force were reported to be killed in the attacks, which targeted Cali, the third-largest city in Colombia, as well as a number of surrounding towns.
Explosives and Drones Used in Coordinated Strikes
Car bombs, motorbike bombs, rifle fire and an alleged drone were said to have been employed to attack police stations, town halls and civilian targets as a deepening security crisis continues to hold the South American nation in its grip.
Some of the attacks have been linked by local media to a group within the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a former dominant guerrilla organization.
Several individuals have been injured in the attacks, although it is not yet certain how many dead and injured there are.
Government Responds to Wave of Violence in Colombia
Posting on social media, the Colombian Ministry of Defence issued a statement claiming 19 attacks had occurred in the south west of the country.
There were 12 attacks in the Cauca area and seven in the Valle del Cauca area, the ministry stated.
The ministry described the violence as “a desperate reaction by illegal armed groups to the massive operations of the [military and police], which have devastated their illicit structures and economies”.
Context: Political Tensions and Regional Unrest
The violence occurs days after the attempted assassination of presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay in the capital city, Bogota, during which he was addressing supporters.
The region’s largest city, Cali, has been returned to 1989, when it was plagued by the drugs trade and violence from cartels, its mayor said.
