Colombia: FARC dissidents destroy toll booth with explosives

Dissident FARC guerrillas detonated explosives at a toll booth near Cali, Colombia, on Saturday, the army reported. The attack occurred just a day after Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as the new president in the same city. De la Espriella, an ultrarightist, pledged to combat 'narco-terrorism without truce' and end peace talks with major armed groups.

Near Cali, particularly in the Cauca department, rebels led by alias Iván Mordisco operate. Mordisco is Colombia's most wanted guerrilla leader, having broken away from the 2016 peace accord. The attack on the under-construction toll booth on the Pan-American Highway in Santander de Quilichao injured two security guards. The army blamed Mordisco's faction.

President De la Espriella denounced the attack on social media, stating, "Attacking the country's infrastructure is attacking the progress, mobility, and tranquility of millions of Colombians." He sent a clear message to those responsible: "There will be no refuge, no leniency, and no impunity."

Separately, early Saturday, a police officer died in a drone attack with explosives on a police station in the Cesar department in northern Colombia. Authorities have not yet identified the group behind this attack. De la Espriella plans to intensify bombings against guerrilla, drug trafficker, and paramilitary groups, with support from Israel and the United States, and build mega-prisons similar to those in El Salvador. He has stated he will not continue the peace negotiations initiated by his predecessor, Gustavo Petro.

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A los responsables les envío un mensaje claro: no habrá refugio, no habrá contemplaciones y no habrá impunidad.