August 1, 2026 / 11:20 AM EDT
/ CBS/AFP
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At least 11 people were injured Saturday when a truck packed with explosives detonated next to a Colombian police station near the border with Venezuela, six days before President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella's inauguration.AFP reporters saw the vehicle in flames, damaged building facades and police, and soldiers and residents gathering around the scene of the attack in the northern city of Cucuta. After the blast, local security officials confirmed the number of injured."At this time, we have eight police officers and three civilians who have been injured," George Quintero, security secretary for the department of Norte de Santander where the attack occurred, told reporters. "This was an atrocious, violent act ... and what happened is regrettable."De la Espriella condemned the bombing "in the strongest terms," adding "terrorism will not intimidate Colombia."Authorities are offering a reward equivalent to more than $32,000 for information leading to the capture of those responsible.The right-wing de la Espriella will take office on Aug. 7 in the city of Cali, succeeding Gustavo Petro, the first leftist president in the country's history.With the support of President Donald Trump, the millionaire lawyer promised to intensify the fight against guerrillas and other drug-trafficking organizations fueling the country's worst wave of violence in a decade.
