Wave of Coordinated Bomb Attacks Kill Seven, Injure Dozens in Southwestern Colombia

A coordinated wave of terror attacks in southwestern Colombia killed at least seven people and injured dozens, targeting police stations and urban areas primarily in Cali and the Valle del Cauca and Cauca regions. The attacks, involving car bombs, motorcycle bombs, shootings, and drones, were attributed to Estado Mayor Central (EMC), a guerrilla faction splintered from FARC, marking the most extensive offensive of its kind by the group. These assaults came just days after an assassination attempt on presidential hopeful Senator Miguel Uribe, intensifying concerns about Colombia’s worsening security situation. Government officials, including Interior Minister Armando Benedetti, suggested possible links between the attacks and Uribe’s shooting, while analysts and opposition voices criticized President Gustavo Petro's peace strategy for failing to curb violence and criminal group activity. Authorities are conducting investigations, with a minor arrested in connection to the Uribe attack, which remains under scrutiny. The violence underscores ongoing challenges in Colombia's efforts to maintain public order amid persistent guerrilla and criminal threats despite peace negotiations.