An explosive attack targeted the home of Jaime Arturo Herrera, the mayor of Carmen de Atrato in Colombia’s Chocó Department, when a hooded suspect hurled a bomb onto his front porch.
Captured on CCTV, the suspect can be seen walking near the property before taking an object from a plastic bag and launching it at the mayor’s house, resulting in an immediate explosion.
The blast sent a massive fireball down the street, shook nearby buildings, and set off a car alarm at approximately 6:13 pm on Tuesday, November 19.
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Herrera and his family were fortunately not present at the time of the incident.
Speaking about the ordeal, Herrera said, “We were working at the Mayor’s Office, I live nearby.
We heard a very loud explosion and immediately activated public security protocols as we thought it was possibly a gas blast.
But when we saw it, we knew it wasn’t a gas canister—it was an explosive device thrown at my house.”
The mayor has reportedly received threats from the National Liberation Army (ELN), a guerrilla group that has been active in the region, according to a statement reported by vknews24.
Governor Nubia Carolina Córdoba Curi condemned the attack on social media, describing it as a “vile act” and highlighting broader security concerns in the Chocó Department.
She noted that recent acts of terrorism in the area have included arson targeting public transport vehicles, further spreading fear among the population.
“This time, the governability of a territory, its leader, and his family are also being attacked,” she said, adding that an emergency security council had been convened to respond to the incident and implement necessary measures.
Police have announced the arrest of one individual in connection with the attack as investigations are underway.
Meanwhile, the Chocó Department continues to grapple with significant challenges, including a surge in terrorist activity and devastating flooding caused by weeks of torrential rain, which has affected over 150,000 people across 27 of the region’s 31 municipalities.
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SOURCE: Blast shakes street after hooded thug throws bomb on mayor’s porch
