• At least seven people killed in coordinated attacks across southwest Colombia, with many injured.
• The attacks targeted police stations and civilian buildings in cities like Cali and surrounding areas.
• Concerns grow over a resurgence of guerrilla violence as authorities suspect the Central General Staff (EMC) faction of FARC.
• The violence follows the attempted assassination of presidential candidate Miguel Uribe, raising national tensions.
• President Gustavo Petro has condemned the attacks and plans to meet with security officials for further investigation.

A series of coordinated bombings and gun attacks across southwestern Colombia has resulted in at least seven fatalities and left around 28 others injured, according to the National Police. The violence primarily targeted police stations and municipal buildings in Cali, the country’s third-largest city, as well as in nearby towns like Corinto and Villa Rica. The explosive attacks involved car and motorcycle bombs, rifle fire, and a suspected drone attack, indicating a well-planned offensive aimed at instilling fear, reports SCMP, TRT Global, Al Jazeera, and BBC.

National Police chief Carlos Fernando Triana confirmed that among the deceased were two police officers, while at least two civilians also lost their lives. Eyewitness accounts from reporters and residents described scenes of devastation, with charred vehicles and damaged infrastructure visible in the aftermath. Observers speculate that the violence is linked to the Central General Staff (EMC), a dissident faction of the now-defunct FARC group, which has been active since the 2016 peace agreement, according to India Times, Latin America Reports, and TRT Global.

These attacks have heightened fears of a resurgence in the violent tactics reminiscent of the 1980s and 1990s when Colombia faced rampant cartel-related violence and political assassination. The assaults strikingly follow the attempted assassination of conservative senator Miguel Uribe, who was shot at a campaign rally in Bogotá just days earlier. Authorities noted this timing has exacerbated national anxiety concerning security and governance, as indicated by Le Monde and India Times.

President Gustavo Petro responded to the violence by condemning the attacks and announcing plans to consult with police and military authorities regarding the situation. He emphasized the necessity of an urgent and comprehensive strategy to regain control over areas increasingly threatened by illegal armed groups, reflective of the urgent public safety concerns expressed by regional officials, according to BBC and Al Jazeera.