In short
- At least four people were killed on Sunday when a lorry loaded with explosives detonated near a military base in the town of Planadas, in Colombia’s Tolima province.
- A two-month-old baby girl was among the dead, according to Tolima governor Adriana Magali Matiz, who posted the information on X.
- The explosion damaged a nearby hospital and several other buildings in Planadas.
- President Abelardo de la Espriella, a right-wing former defence lawyer sworn in in August, has ended peace talks with some illegal armed groups and expanded a crackdown that includes bombing their camps.
- On 23 October a marine infantryman was killed and four others were injured aboard a Navy boat in Cauca province.
At least four people, including a two-month-old girl, were killed on Sunday when a lorry loaded with explosives detonated near a military base in Planadas, in Colombia’s Tolima province, according to the province’s governor, Adriana Magali Matiz. The blast damaged a nearby hospital and several other buildings.
Who was killed in the Planadas bombing?
Matiz said on X that the dead included a two-month-old baby girl and described the bombing as “a vile and criminal act that we reject with absolute forcefulness”. She added: “Attacking the civilian population and putting at risk the lives of our soldiers and the Tolima families is crossing a line that we will not tolerate.”
Who was behind the attack?
No group has said it carried out the bombing, and it is not yet clear who was responsible. The attack comes as armed criminal groups have stepped up strikes on Colombia’s security forces, in what appears to be retaliation for an offensive ordered by President Abelardo de la Espriella.
What has President de la Espriella said?
De la Espriella wrote on social media that “we will not retreat, not even a millimetre”. Addressing what he called “the narco-terrorists who continue to assassinate innocents”, the president said: “We’re going to carry on with the bombings against legitimate military targets and we will step up our special operations,” adding that those responsible would be “hunted down”.
How has Colombia’s security policy changed?
Sworn in in August, the right-wing former defence lawyer has ended peace talks with some of Colombia’s illegal armed groups, negotiations that had begun under his left-wing predecessor Gustavo Petro. “In my government, criminals will have no political status, no leniency, and no impunity,” de la Espriella said at the time. He has expanded a crackdown on all of the country’s illegal groups, including bombing their camps. In Brazil, Lula won re-election.
How are armed groups attacking security forces?
Some recent attacks have used drones, rather than cars or motorcycles, to transport explosives. On 23 October, a marine infantryman was killed and four others were injured aboard a Navy boat in Cauca province.
Other Latin American governments have also deployed troops on security missions: El Salvador sent 2,000 troops to Haiti to search for missing soldiers.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were killed in the Planadas bombing?
At least four people were killed, including a two-month-old baby girl, according to Tolima governor Adriana Magali Matiz.
Has anyone claimed responsibility for the attack?
No. It is not yet clear who was behind the bombing in Planadas, and no group has said it carried it out.
Who is Abelardo de la Espriella?
Abelardo de la Espriella is Colombia’s right-wing president, a former defence lawyer who was sworn in in August and has ended peace talks with some of the country’s illegal armed groups.
Where is Planadas?
Planadas is a town in Colombia’s Tolima province, where a lorry loaded with explosives detonated near a military base and damaged a hospital and other buildings.
With reporting from BBC News.
Stock image, not from the events described. City Skyline — Joe deSousa / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)
