Colombian authorities successfully deactivated a “FARC” car bomb in the southwest department of Cauca, two days after an “ELN” car bomb in the department capital Popayan killed one and injured 16, EFE reported Tuesday.
The second attempted attack occurred in the municipality of Corinto, Cauca, when a car packed with explosives was discovered by authorities on the outskirts of the municipality on Monday evening.
The explosives were identified by a trained dog, before being deactivated early Tuesday morning. Officials are concerned by the second car bomb attempt in such a short time, with local night-schools and houses being evacuated.
Colonel Martin Beltran, the brigade commander in Cauca, said that “We believe that behind the incident is the sixth front of the FARC that were looking to attack the population of Corinto,” reported Terra.
The earlier car bomb, in Popayan on Saturday June 18, was attributed to the country’s second largest guerrilla group the ELN.
It had apparently been intended for the heart of the department capital before being discovered by authorities at an outlying checkpoint. The bomb was nevertheless detonated, injuring 17 people, one of whom died later on Sunday.