Four policemen have been killed and another four people were injured in two alleged FARC attacks on security forces in the south and southwest of Colombia, authorities said.
Caqueta attack
The deadliest attack took place on Tuesday in the southern Caqueta state where three policemen were killed in an alleged ambush by guerrillas of the country’s largest rebel group.
According to the Colombian military, members of the FARC’s 15th front attacked a small police convoy that was transporting a detainee through the Cartagena de Chaira municipality.
Following the deadly attack, the military sent troops to the area to persecute the alleged perpetrators.
The Caqueta state is one of the FARC’s strongholds in the south of the country. Drug trafficking organizations are also active in the region.
Cauca attack
A fourth policeman was killed and four others were injured in an attack on security forces in the Cauca state of Monday evening when the victim and colleagues were playing sports.
Alleged members of the FARC’s elite 6th front opened fire at the policemen stationed in the Buenos Aires municipality.
Among the injured is one civilian woman who was caught in the middle of the attack. The woman, who authorities said was hit in the head, was taken to hospital in critical condition. Three policemen were also injured.
The attacks took place amid peace talks between the FARC and the Colombian government in Cuba. The warring parties taking part in the Havana peace talks have failed to agree to a bilateral ceasefire while talks are ongoing.
The talks that began formally in November 2012 are meant to bring an end to the FARC’s 50-year war against the state.
Sources