A car bomb exploded near a police station in Los Patios, a town in the Cúcuta metropolitan area of Norte de Santander province along Colombia’s border with Venezuela, late on August 31. The blast killed one civilian and injured 11 others, including two police officers, according to Colombia’s National Police.
Authorities described the attack as an act of terrorism. The acting commander of the Cúcuta Metropolitan Police provided additional details about the incident, while the National Police issued an official statement outlining what happened around the station. Images released afterward showed extensive damage to the building’s facade and surrounding area.
In response, Colombia’s president announced he would convene a security council meeting with top military commanders to discuss strategies for combating the criminal and armed groups believed responsible for the attack. Norte de Santander has long been a flashpoint for violence tied to guerrilla factions, drug-trafficking networks, and other armed groups operating along the porous Colombia–Venezuela border.
Colombia’s Attorney General (procurador general) Gregorio Eljach called on investigators to move quickly to identify those responsible and clarify the circumstances surrounding the bombing, emphasizing the need for swift accountability in a region that has repeatedly suffered attacks on security forces.
To read the full story and see the latest updates, check out the original report at El Tiempo.
Source: Atentado terrorista contra estación de Policía de Los Patios, Cúcuta: procurador general Gregorio Eljach pidió avanzar rápidamente en la investigación (eltiempo.com). English version produced with AI assistance.
Image: Pedro Ribeiro Simões from Lisboa, Portugal.