Colombian journalist assassinated on Venezuela border

A Colombian journalist, Cristian Herrera, was assassinated on Saturday near the border with Venezuela, the People's Defender's Office, a public body overseeing human rights, announced. Herrera, who was on the board of the press freedom NGO FLIP, was shot by a motorcyclist in the border city of Cúcuta and died later in the hospital.

The People's Defender's Office stated on X that "violence strikes journalism in Colombia again." Herrera had been working on sensitive topics including impunity, organized crime, corruption, and the situation in Catatumbo, a region bordering Venezuela that has seen violent clashes between guerrilla groups.

Despite receiving government protection measures due to prior threats, Herrera's assassination underscores the persistent dangers faced by journalists in Colombia. According to the FLIP, at least 170 journalists have been murdered in the country since 1977.