A fatal blast at a house in Bogota Friday was caused by improper handling of explosives by an alleged FARC guerrilla, according to local authorities.
“What we have established from investigations at this time is that the man was preparing explosives and handled the explosives poorly which led to his death,” said commander of the Bogota Metropolitan Police, General Luiz Eduardo Martinez.
The explosion killed the suspected guerrilla and wounded three others in the Alfonso Lopez neighborhood of southern Bogota. Officers also found 180 grams of the highly powerful explosive pentolite on the scene.
The officer said the explosives could be used in the manufacture of car bombs, such as the one used in the attack on former Minister Fernando Londoño last month. “This explosive would have been exploded by radio frequency and most likely put somewhere in the capital,” said Martinez.
Martinez also denied rumors that police targeted the suspected FARC member and were loitering near the house prior to the explosion. “That is false. Authorities arrived at the site after the explosion happened. We had no prior knowledge that they were preparing bombs there,” said the commander.
Authorities believe the suspected guerrilla was from the municipality of Algeciras, in the southwestern Huila department and belonged to the Teofilo Forero Castro Column of the FARC.