7 killed, 1 kidnapped in southwest Colombia

Seven people were killed and a government official was kidnapped by an unidentified armed group Sunday in the southwest Colombian port town of Tumaco.

According to the mayor, Neftali Correa, among the victims of the massacre was one of the city’s councilmen.

The mayor’s private secretary was later abducted from his home at gunpoint.

Additionally, the mayor told media that threats against local election candidates and public officials are on the rise.

The coastal region of the Nariño department, no stranger to violence, has suffered a worrying increment in extortion and homicides. In the past year, 14 police officers have been assassinated and 10 terrorist attacks have occurred.

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