In Colombia, at least eighteen people were killed on Thursday at an attack by a drug gang and fights with a split -off from the former guerrilla group FARC. Dozens of people were injured.
In Cali, the third city of the country, a truck was exploded at an air force base. Six people were killed. According to the police, it is about drug terrorism. Earlier in the day, twelve police officers were killed in fighting in the north -western Department of Antioquia with a group of guerrilla fighters. Among other things, a police helicopter was brought down with a drone.
The responsible fighters group in Antioquia is split off from the Estado Mayor Central (EMC), which in turn is a split -off of the FARC. For decades, Colombia performed a bloody battle with that left -wing guerrilla movement. This came to an end in 2016 when a peace agreement was signed with the movement.
Defense minister Pedro Sánchez initially said that the fighting with members of the drug cartel were Clan del Golfo, but later stated that it was a faction by the guerilla group EMC. The EMC is active in drug trafficking in the South American country and has control over roads and laboratories in parts of the country. Significant parts of the country therefore have a red travel advice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in particular in the border areas and on the west coast, where EMC is active.