Mechanic arrested in connection with Bogota bomb

Colombian authorities arrest a man whose mechanic shop allegedly fitted the car bomb which exploded Thursday outside the headquarters of Caracol Radio in Bogota.

Edison Moreno Barragan was arrested in Ciudad Bolivar, southern Bogota, by investigators from the Prosecutor General’s Office. He is being held in Bogota’s La Modelo prison on a number of charges, including aggravated murder and the manufacture and trafficking of weapons, reports EFE.

Investigators say that the 110-pound bomb was fitted in Moreno’s shop. The accused’s lawyer claims Moreno Barragan is innocent, and is willing to work with the investigation to track down the culprits.

Adelmo Lopez was arrested Saturday after he was linked to the attack by another man, Gustavo Ladino, who had turned himself in at a Bogota court and confessed to falsifying the registration of the vehicle used by the terrorists.

Both men deny any direct involvement in the attack and are now under a witness protection program while they the assist authorities with the investigation.

No individual or group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, which injured 36 people, damaged 424 houses, and affected over 800 people. President Juan Manuel Santos has offered a reward of $275,000 for information leading to the arrest of those responsible.

The bomb exploded at 5:30AM, before commuters arrived at the normally busy street, so there were no fatalities in the massive blast.

The prosecutor general’s investigative unit has made three raids in south Bogota in connection with evidence uncovered on the attack. One raid occurred where the car bomb was allegedly prepared, but no evidence was found at the scene.

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