Colombia Car Bomb: 11 Wounded, President-elect De la Espriella Condemns Attack

Colombia car bomb wounds 11 ahead of president-elect's inauguration

A car bomb attack in the city of Cucuta on the Venezuelan border wounded eight police officers and three civilians. The attack occurred six days before US-backed right-wing leader Abelardo de la Espriella is set to take office.

Scraper SystemAugust 01, 2026, 08:06 PM

Colombia car bomb wounds 11 ahead of president-elect's inauguration

A car bomb exploded on Saturday in the Colombian city of Cucuta, on the Venezuelan border. George Quintero, the security secretary for the Norte de Santander region, said at least 11 people were wounded, including eight police officers and three civilians.

The blast came six days before right-wing leader Abelardo de la Espriella, who has the backing of US President Donald Trump, is due to take over the presidency on 7 August. De la Espriella will assume office from the current left-wing President Gustavo Petro.

The president-elect strongly condemned the “cowardly terrorist attack” in Cucuta in a statement posted on the X social media platform. “Terrorism will not intimidate Colombia or break the determination of Colombians to live in peace and security,” he said.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. However, numerous armed groups operate in the area, including the National Liberation Army (ELN), dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the Clan del Golfo crime organization.

Throughout his presidential campaign, De la Espriella pledged to take a military approach against insurgent groups and drug trafficking. In an interview with the Associated Press, he said, “As commander-in-chief, I will order the Air Force to shoot down any plane loaded with drugs. I will also order any boat loaded with drugs to be sunk with everyone on board.”

That rhetoric marks a sharp break from his predecessor Petro, whose policy represented a pursuit of dialogue and a move away from the US-led “war on drugs.” De la Espriella has also vowed to expand Colombia's military alliance with the United States.

Colombia, which has been grappling with internal conflict for more than 60 years, is also the world's largest cocaine producer. The election process has been marked by political violence. In 2025, right-wing presidential candidate Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay was shot in the head and killed in Bogota.

De la Espriella had previously warned of an assassination plot against him and requested to take the oath of office at a military garrison. That request was denied. He will be sworn in at Bogota's City Hall in a ceremony to be attended by 11,000 soldiers and police.

Colombia car bomb wounds 11 ahead of president-elect's inauguration