Bomb attack kills 4 policemen in northern Colombia

On January 27, 2018, a bomb attack at a police station in the northern Colombian port city of Barranquilla killed four police officers and injured dozens of other people, including civilians. The bombing was noted as one of the deadliest actions against security personnel in the city in recent years.

The deceased officers were between 24 and 31 years old. Following the incident, authorities arrested one individual in connection with the attack, while police continued to search for several other suspects. Prosecutors indicated plans to indict the detained suspect on charges of aggravated murder, attempted homicide, terrorism, and the use of explosives.

Brigadier General Mariano de la Cruz Botero, the metropolitan police commander, suggested the bombing could have been retaliation by local crime gangs and drug traffickers who had been targeted in recent police operations. Investigators were working to determine if the bomb had been planted inside the station and triggered remotely, although some witnesses reported seeing a man throw an object at the officers prior to the blast.

The attack disrupted preparations for the city’s annual carnival. While Mayor Alejandro Char publicly expressed solidarity with the police force, local newspaper El Heraldo reported on speculation that the bombing might have been designed to distract officers from an armored car robbery taking place at the same time.