The FARC, Colombia’s largest rebel group, attacked the police department of Esmeralda village in the region of Nariño on Wednesday, killing one police officer and leaving another injured.
Southwest Colombia has become a battle field between the FARC and the army throughout the past month, causing deaths and displacement of hundreds of inhabitants of the region. The rebel group targeted police departments in particular but the civilian population have been forced into displacement.
MORE: Hundreds displaced in ongoing battles in southwestern Colombia
The most recent attack took place this morning between 1:30 am and 3:30 AM at the police station in Esmeraldas village. A 19 year old police officer died as a result of the attack and a 30 year old officer was severely injured, and transferred to hospital by helicopter.
The two officers were not the only victims of the attack, which forced residents to abandon their homes. The rebel group allegedly destroyed three houses.
Colombia’s ombudsman claimed that the region is very vulnerable “because its location at the foothill is an obligatory passage point to the illegal armed group such as FARC, ELN and Los Rastrojos towards Pacific Region and the border with the Republic of Ecuador,” according to Caracol Radiol.
The ombudsman expressed his concern that more families from Esmeraldas could be displaced following the attacks of the rebel group.
Despite ongoing peace talks between the government and the FARC, there has been no ceasefire agreement.
Souces
- Advierten posible desplazamiento de familias por ataque en Nariño (Radio Caracol)
- En ataque de Farc en Nariño, murió auxiliar de Policía y patrullero quedó herido (Vanguardia)