Colombia: Three militant attacks in Bolívar and Atlántico Jan. 27-28

Event

Three militant attacks were reported on Saturday, January 27, and Sunday, January 28, in Colombia's northern departments of Bolívar and Atlántico. According to security officials, a remote-controlled explosive device detonated outside of a police station in Barranquilla (Atlántico department) on the morning of January 27 (local time), killing five officers and wounding at least 42 people. On the evening of January 27, a second blast was reported near a police station in Santa Rosa del Sur (Bolívar department) killing two officers and wounding one person. At 04:00 on Sunday, January 28, a third blast was reported in the Soledad 2000 suburb of Barranquilla. According to local sources, five police officers and one person were wounded in the attack.

The National Liberation Army (ELN) claimed responsibility for the three attacks, leading President Juan Manuel Santos to suspend peace talks with the armed group. A heightened security presence and associated traffic disruptions are expected in the coming days in northern Colombia.

Context

The ELN - the country's last remaining rebel group following the demobilization of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) - is believed to have some 2000 fighters spread out over the departments of Antioquia, Nariño, Arauca, Boyacá, Norte de Santander, La Guajira, Cesar, Bolívar, Casanare, Santander, Chocó, Cauca, and Putumayo, particularly in rural zones. A bilateral ceasefire formerly in place between the ELN and Bogotá expired on January 9.

Advice

Individuals in the affected areas are advised to avoid recent attack sites, limit time in areas deemed particularly likely to be targeted in an attack (police stations, etc.), and report any suspicious objects or behavior to the relevant authorities.

Due to the presence of a number of armed groups - including organized crime groups, drug cartels, right-wing militias, local gangs, and the ELN guerilla group - some Western governments advise against travel to various parts of the country, including to Meta, Cauca, and Nariño departments, and to parts of northern Antioquia and southern Valle del Cauca departments.