Colombia highway bomb attack leaves 20 dead, 36 injured; frequent attacks before elections
A bomb attack on a highway in Colombia resulted in 20 deaths and 36 injuries, according to local officials. The incident, which occurred over a month before the presidential elections, is attributed to armed groups, escalating tensions in the region.
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- 📰 Published: April 27, 2026 at 18:25
- 🔍 Collected: April 27, 2026 at 19:02 (36 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 23:19 (28h 17m after Collected)
Central News Agency (CNA)
(Bogota, April 26, CNA) A bomb attack on a highway in Colombia over the weekend has resulted in 20 deaths and 36 injuries, local officials announced today on social media platform X. The incident occurred more than a month before the May 31 presidential elections, with local and central government officials accusing armed groups of being responsible.
According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), Cauca Department Governor Octavio Guzman described the explosion as "the most cruel and merciless attack against civilians" in the region in decades, noting that the blast left a 200-cubic-meter crater at the site.
He stated that the deceased include 15 women and 5 men, all adults. Among the injured, three are still in intensive care. Five children were also wounded but "are out of danger."
The massive explosion took place in the volatile southwestern region of Colombia, severely damaging multiple buses and vans on the Pan-American Highway and overturning several cars due to the force of the blast.
Military Commander Hugo Lopez stated in a press conference yesterday that the perpetrators blocked the road with a bus and another vehicle, preventing traffic, and then detonated the bomb. He called it "a terrorist attack against civilians."
This attack occurred more than a month before the national elections, when voters will choose the successor to left-wing President Gustavo Petro.
Petro said on platform X: "Those who carried out this attack... are terrorists, fascists, and drug traffickers. I demand that the best soldiers confront them." He blamed the explosion on Ivan Mordisco, Colombia's most wanted criminal.
A military base in Cali, Colombia's third-largest city, was also attacked with bombs on April 24, injuring two people and initiating a series of attacks in Valle del Cauca Department and Cauca Department. According to Lopez, a total of 26 attacks have occurred in these two departments over the past two days.
Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez said yesterday that authorities have reinforced the deployment of military and police in these areas.
Armed groups in Colombia have consistently sought to influence elections through violence, funding their activities through drug trafficking, illegal mining, and extortion. (Translator: Yang Zhaoyan) 1150427
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(Bogota, April 26, CNA) A bomb attack on a highway in Colombia over the weekend has resulted in 20 deaths and 36 injuries, local officials announced today on social media platform X. The incident occurred more than a month before the May 31 presidential elections, with local and central government officials accusing armed groups of being responsible.
According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), Cauca Department Governor Octavio Guzman described the explosion as "the most cruel and merciless attack against civilians" in the region in decades, noting that the blast left a 200-cubic-meter crater at the site.
He stated that the deceased include 15 women and 5 men, all adults. Among the injured, three are still in intensive care. Five children were also wounded but "are out of danger."
The massive explosion took place in the volatile southwestern region of Colombia, severely damaging multiple buses and vans on the Pan-American Highway and overturning several cars due to the force of the blast.
Military Commander Hugo Lopez stated in a press conference yesterday that the perpetrators blocked the road with a bus and another vehicle, preventing traffic, and then detonated the bomb. He called it "a terrorist attack against civilians."
This attack occurred more than a month before the national elections, when voters will choose the successor to left-wing President Gustavo Petro.
Petro said on platform X: "Those who carried out this attack... are terrorists, fascists, and drug traffickers. I demand that the best soldiers confront them." He blamed the explosion on Ivan Mordisco, Colombia's most wanted criminal.
A military base in Cali, Colombia's third-largest city, was also attacked with bombs on April 24, injuring two people and initiating a series of attacks in Valle del Cauca Department and Cauca Department. According to Lopez, a total of 26 attacks have occurred in these two departments over the past two days.
Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez said yesterday that authorities have reinforced the deployment of military and police in these areas.
Armed groups in Colombia have consistently sought to influence elections through violence, funding their activities through drug trafficking, illegal mining, and extortion. (Translator: Yang Zhaoyan) 1150427
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a power to protect press freedom.
Download the CNA "First-hand News" app to get the latest news in real-time.
The text, images, and audio on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or used without authorization.