Colombian authorities arrested a man allegedly responsible for a car bomb that was defused May 15 in front of Bogota’s police headquarters, reported local media.
Ruben Dario Hoyos Rengifo, alias “Ruben” or alias “El Mocho,” arrested in downtown Bogota Friday, is suspected of being a member of the FARC‘s 17th Front. Investigators reported that El Mocho coordinated the failed bomb plot with another FARC guerrilla, alias “El Mono.”
Police suspect El Mocho of being responsible for coordinating other terrorist attacks including the October bombing of a dental clinic in Bogota that killed 2 explosives technicians from the city’s police force.
Police arrested another man involved in the plot May 16. Jesus Antonio Monroy Alvarez is suspected of parking the car as a decoy for the terrorist attack that was carried out hours later in Bogota’s financial district. The bombing targeted former minister Fernando Londoño and resulted in the death of his bodyguard and driver. Alvarez allegedly has 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.