Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon announced the formation of several committees that will coordinate investigations into Tuesday’s terrorist attack with Colombia’s intelligence agencies.
“This procedure allows for the integration of information. Intelligence that integrates and connects the work being conducted by the Prosecutor General’s Office, both with the research portion of the CTI [Colombia’s Technical Investigation Team] and the investigation conducted by the prosecutor,” said Pinzon in a press release.
One group will seek to determine if there is a link between Tuesday’s attack, which killed two peole and injured dozens more, and a car bomb that was discovered and defused outside of Bogota’s police headquarters. Investigators suspect the car bomb was a decoy for the attack that occurred hours later in the city’s financial district.
The second sub-committee will look into testimony from an arrested man that claims the FARC was targeting former Interior Minister Fernando Londoño with the attack.
The third panel will continue their investigation into a recent series of threats against high-ranking Colombian officials including former minister Piedad Cordoba and Bogota Mayor Gustavo Petro.
Pinzon promised that “state security agencies will not rest” until they uncover those responsible for the attack.
He also reiterated that the safety of high-profile officials is a top priority for the government, saying the National Police “took several decisions to improve and facilitate the safety of [officials] through security measures. Of course, we are willing to take further action if necessary.”
Investigators from the US and Britain offered their assistance to Colombia in determining the technique used in the attack. Perpetrators reportedly used a “sticky bomb” which is an explosive device fastened to a surface using magnets or other adhesive materials. It is a technique “never seen” in Colombia, according to Andres Villamizar, director of the National Protection Unit.
The government has offered a $279,500 reward for information about the bombing.
Former minster Londoño suffered a lacerated lung and a ruptured eardrum in the attack.
