Alleged FARC rebels have begun an offensive in the north of Colombia, carrying out at least five attacks in two days.
All attacks took place on Friday and Saturday in Norte de Santander, a department bordering Venezuela where the Colombian military think FARC leader “Timochenko” is operating.
The first attack took place in the municipality of Tibu where a car bomb killed three civilians and injured another three.
Guerrillas subsequently attacked an oil pipeline in the Teorama municipality, attacked a police post in Sardanita and fired home-made mortars at military bases in Hacari and San Calixto.
In Convencion, police say they were able to deactivate a number of explosives planted by FARC guerrillas throughout the town.
Norte de Santander has seen an increase in guerrilla-related violence after Timochenko succeeded the slain “Alfonso Cano” as supreme leader of the FARC.
In a press release published on the FARC’s website, Timochenko said the Colombian army had also increased military activity in the region where, apart from the FARC, other illegal armed groups are active.
