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🇨🇴 Colombia /Conflict & Security

Colombia Says ELN Sniper Accused of Plotting Attack on President Has Been Captured

From El Tiempo · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire Official statement Ongoing story
  • Colombia’s president said police and intelligence officers captured an alleged ELN sniper in Ocaña, Norte de Santander.
  • The president said intelligence indicated the suspect had been assigned to help plan and carry out an armed attack against him.
  • Authorities also accuse the suspect of involvement in attacks and the killings of three police officers, while a warrant alleges aggravated homicide and weapons offenses.

Colombia’s President Abelardo De La Espriella announced the capture of alias Firu, also known as Firulais, an alleged ELN sniper accused of helping plan an attack against him.

The arrest took place in Ocaña, in Norte de Santander, according to the president. He said the National Police, acting through intelligence officers and the DIJIN investigative unit, coordinated the operation with Operation Sparta. The suspect allegedly belongs to the Camilo Torres Restrepo Front of the ELN and specializes in sniper operations.

Yesterday, in Ocaña, Norte de Santander, our National Police, through intelligence and the DIJIN, in coordination with Operation Sparta, captured this member of the ELN’s Camilo Torres Restrepo Front, specialized in sniper operations.

· Abelardo De La EspriellaThe Colombian president announced the arrest and identified the agencies involved.

“Intelligence information indicates that he would have been designated by the General Staff of the Northeastern War Front to participate in planning and carrying out an armed action against me,” De La Espriella said in a statement posted on X.

The president also accused Firulais of responsibility for the deaths of three police officers in Río de Oro, Cesar, and of taking part in attacks involving snipers, explosive-carrying drones and explosive devices against Colombia’s security forces. The suspect has an arrest warrant for aggravated homicide of a protected person and for manufacturing, trafficking or carrying firearms.

Intelligence information indicates that he would have been designated by the General Staff of the Northeastern War Front to participate in planning and carrying out an armed action against me.

· Abelardo De La EspriellaHe described the alleged plot against him.
About this summary

Originally published by El Tiempo in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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