CAR BOMB ATTACK ROCKS SOUTHWEST COLOMBIA AFTER NEW PRESIDENT TAKES OFFICE
Published: August 9, 2026 A car bomb explosion has shaken southwestern Colombia, raising fresh concerns about security and armed-group violence just one day after the country welcomed its new president into office. The explosion occurred Saturday at a toll plaza along the Pan-American Highway near Santander de Quilichao in the Cauca region. According to Colombia's army, the attack was carried out by dissident factions linked to the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, commonly known as FARC. The blast caused significant damage to the toll facility and surrounding property. Two security guards were reported injured in the explosion, while nearby residents also suffered damage to their homes, including shattered windows caused by the force of the blast. The attack comes at a particularly sensitive moment for Colombia. Abelardo de la Espriella, a conservative political newcomer, was sworn in as president on Friday, making the bombing one of the first major s...