A helicopter attack on Colombian National Police in Antioquia and an explosion near a military air base in Cali killed at least 19 people on Thursday. The attacks are being described as terrorist acts by authorities.
The police helicopter was hit by a drone while supporting crop eradication efforts. Meanwhile, an explosion occurred near the Marco Fidel Suárez military air base, leaving six dead and 78 wounded. Authorities have secured the area and restricted truck movement.
Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Arnulfo Sánchez blamed the attacks on dissidents of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). President Gustavo Petro initially suggested the Gulf Clan might be involved but later sided with Sanchez’s statement.
The military is firing artillery to neutralize the group responsible for the helicopter attack. No one has claimed responsibility for the explosion, and a reward of 400 million pesos has been offered for information about the blast. This incident marks the latest in a series of attacks in Colombia, following a similar series in Cali and other towns in Cauca in June, which left seven dead and 28 injured.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/21/americas/colombia-police-helicopter-attack-intl-latam