Authorities in Bogota captured another suspect Friday in the May 15 case of a car bomb that was discovered near police headquarters.
William Cruz, alias “Yeison,” was arrested on charges of committing terrorism and the trafficking of weapons, ammunition and explosives. He was an alleged member of the FARC‘s “Héroes de Marquetalia” mobile column, which demobilized in 2008, and is suspected of coordinating the failed bomb plot with other former guerrillas.
The explosive was found hours before a bomb went off in Bogota’s financial district that allegedly targeted former Interior Minister Fernando Londoño and left two people dead.
Prosecutor General Eduardo Montealegre revealed last week that investigators had “serious evidence” linking the FARC to the Bogota bombing against the minister and determined there was a “connection to the car bomb that was found that day.” He added that police had determined the identity of the suspect thought to be responsible for the assassination attempt on Londoño, but were unwilling to reveal his identity yet.
Yeison is the fourth suspect arrested in connection with the car bomb case. Ruben Dario Hoyos Rengifo, alias “Ruben” or alias “El Mocho,” an alleged member of the FARC‘s 17th Front, was arrested May 25 in downtown Bogota. Investigators initially reported that El Mocho supposedly coordinated the failed bomb plot with another FARC guerrilla, alias “El Mono.”
Police arrested Jesus Antonio Monroy Alvarez May 16 for allegedly parking the car as a decoy for the attack against Londoño hours later. Monroy reportedly had ties to the FARC’s now-demobilized 7th Front. He pled guilty to charges of manufacturing and transporting illegal weapons and was sentenced to two years in prison.
Police continue to search for a fifth man thought to be involved in the incident.