Bomb explodes in Bogota
By Daniel Brody, Editorial Director
Thursday, August 12, 2010
A car bomb exploded in Bogota on Thursday morning, leaving six injured but none fatally.
As of this writing, authorities do not have a suspect for the crime, although the way in which the attack was carried out is similar to previous attacks by guerilla group FARC.
The attack occurred in the midtown neighborhood of Chapinero at Carrera 7 with Calle 67, in front of Caracol Radio's facilities, at 5:30 a.m.
The bomb left a crater in the street 45 centimeters deep and 2.5 meters wide.
Witnesses said that a large car drove by on Carrera 7 near the site of the explosion, when all of a sudden a bomb went off in a parked grey 1984 Chevrolet Swift. The bomb-strapped car had gas cylinders and a mobile phone inside, in addition to fifty kilograms of ammonium nitrate mixed with oil that were used to create the explosion.
According to security cameras recording the scene of the crime, the vehicle had been parked for about three minutes before the bomb went off. Police are reviewing the tapes, which allegedly show a man who is 1.65 meters tall and wearing a scarf exiting the car shortly before it blew up.
The vehicle has since been traced to an owner in southern Bogota who is reportedly cooperating with authorities.
President Juan Manuel Santos arrived to the scene of the attack an hour and a half after it happened, and told reporters that "We can't let our guard down with the matter of Democratic Security," referring to his predecessor Alvaro Uribe's policy of seeking a more active role for Colombia's society and government in the confrontation of threats from illegally armed groups.
He also insisted that local media "not play games" with those responsible for the attack, and to simply report the news in a straightforward manner.
"What they want is for us to fall into that trap," Santos explained.
Defense Minister Rodrigo Rivera said that authorities were investigating whether the attack had anything to do with a disactivated bomb that was discovered on Wednesday night in the city of Neiva, six hours from Bogota.
While many nearby windows were shattered in the explosion, buildings in the vicinity didn't seem to sustain any severe structural damage.
In response to the attack, "Plan Padlock" has gone into effect and will last through the weekend. The plan will involve increased monitoring by the police and military of all exits and entries to and from Bogota.
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