Police officers inspect the wreckage of a truck after a car bomb detonated near a police station in Cucuta, Colombia, on August 1, 2026. Photo by SCHNEYDER MENDOZA / AFP
Cúcuta truck bomb wounds 14 near police station days
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Government blames ELN for attack.
- Two officers remain in critical condition.
- Bombing comes days before presidential inauguration.
A truck packed with explosives detonated early Saturday near a police station in the northern border city of Cúcuta, wounding 14 people just days before Colombia’s presidential inauguration.
The blast damaged surrounding building facades and left the vehicle in flames near the Venezuelan border.
Authorities confirmed that 11 police officers and three civilians were injured in the explosion.
Norte de Santander Governor William Villamizar stated that two of the wounded police officers were severely injured and currently "fighting for their lives."
Government blame ELN rebels
The government in Bogotá blamed rebels from the National Liberation Army (ELN), Colombia's largest active guerrilla group, for the early-morning bombing.
Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the ELN as "narcoterrorists" and announced a reward exceeding $64,000 for information leading to the arrest of those responsible.
The United Nations also condemned the bombing, noting that the attack has sparked widespread fear among local residents.
The ELN, the oldest surviving guerrilla group in the Americas, funds its armed operations largely through drug trafficking and illegal mining across Colombia - the world's top cocaine producer.
Peace negotiations between the outgoing administration of President Gustavo Petro and the ELN collapsed in January 2025 following a rebel offensive in the northeast that killed over 100 people.
President-elect pledges hardline security stance
President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella-a right-wing millionaire lawyer who succeeds Petro on August 7- strongly condemned the attack on social media.
"This was an atrocious, violent act," De la Espriella posted on X. "Terrorism will not intimidate Colombia."
De la Espriella has promised to scrap ongoing peace negotiations with armed groups, taking a hardline stance supported by US President Donald Trump to intensify operations against drug trafficking organizations.
As part of his security strategy, De la Espriella plans to forge a close military alliance with both the United States and 'Israel'.
The inauguration ceremony, traditionally held at Congress in Bogotá, was moved to Cali in southwestern Colombia at the president-elect's request - a region heavily impacted by clashes between guerrillas and drug syndicates.
The event will operate under a massive security footprint of 11,000 police and military personnel following persistent assassination threats against De la Espriella.
The bombing follows a campaign season marked by severe political violence, including the 2025 assassination of right-wing presidential contender Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay in Bogotá.
Outgoing President Gustavo Petro, currently on an official visit to Cuba, has not yet issued a public comment on the Cúcuta attack.
