Colombia: 29 wounded in grenade attack in El Bagre Dec. 23

Event

At least 29 people were wounded when unidentified men on a motorcycle threw a grenade into a nightclub in El Bagre (Antioquia department) on the evening (local time) of Sunday, December 23. A police operation is currently underway to locate the assailants. Nevertheless, security officials have announced they suspect the Clan del Golfo of perpetrating the attack. A heightened security presence is anticipated in the area in the near term. Further attacks cannot be ruled out.

Context

The Clan del Golfo - also referred to as the AGC (Autodefensas Gaitanistas de Colombia) - is considered the largest drug trafficking organization in Colombia today. The group has a significant presence in the northwest of the country, home to major drug trafficking routes. Colombia's armed forces have been involved in an intense campaign against the cartel over the past two years; according to estimates, the group's size has been reduced to some 2000-3000 members (down from 4000).

Paramilitary crime organizations (BACRIM) such as the Clan del Golfo have replaced leftist guerrillas as the most serious armed threat in Colombia. These groups have moved into territory left by the demobilized FARC guerilla group, leading to violent turf wars as well as assassinations of local landowners and community leaders.

Advice

Due to the presence of a number of armed groups - including drug cartels, right-wing militias, and local gangs, and the ELN guerilla group - some Western governments advise against travel to various regions of the country, including parts of Córdoba and Antioquia.