Colombian Defense Minister Diego Molano on Tuesday called an explosion at an army facility in Cucuta a "vile terrorist attack" that targeted the country's soldiers, revealing that 36 people, including 2 civilians, were injured in the blast.
According to the minister, the National Liberation Army, one of the country's armed rebel groups, may have been behind the attack. Molano said that the explosion was the result of the detonation of a bomb in a Toyota that entered the territory of the 30th Brigade of the Army with two people inside.
"All my solidarity with the 36 people who were injured, including 2 civilians. We are with our soldiers. Nothing and nobody frightens our Public Force. We will continue to ensure the security and defense of Colombians", Molano tweeted.
Toda mi solidaridad con las 36 personas que resultaron heridas, entre ellas 2 civiles. Estamos con nuestros soldados. Nada ni nadie atemoriza a nuestra Fuerza Pública. Seguiremos velando por la seguridad y la defensa de los colombianos. pic.twitter.com/vyBgXBh4Jg
— Diego Molano Aponte (@Diego_Molano) June 16, 2021
Earlier on Tuesday, Colombian President Ivan Duque said that a vehicle exploded in the facility of the 30th Brigade of the Army, located in the city of Cucuta, and tweeted that he had instructed Defense Minister Diego Molano to investigate the blast.
"I have instructed the Minister of Defense, @Diego_Molano, to go to the city and carry out investigations to clarify this unfortunate situation", Duque tweeted.
Ante la explosión de un vehículo al interior de la Brigada 30 del @COL_EJERCITO en la ciudad de Cúcuta, he dado instrucciones al Ministro de Defensa, @Diego_Molano, para que se dirija a la ciudad y adelante las investigaciones que permitan esclarecer esta lamentable situación.
— Iván Duque 🇨🇴 (@IvanDuque) June 15, 2021
Molano also tweeted to confirm his departure to Cucuta to "verify" the situation and "activate the pertinent actions in the face of these serious events."
Salgo de inmediato a Cúcuta, junto a @FuerzasMilCol @COMANDANTE_EJC para verificar situación por explosiones en la Brigada 30 del @COL_EJERCITO y activar las acciones pertinentes frente a estos graves hechos.
— Diego Molano Aponte (@Diego_Molano) June 15, 2021
Earlier in the day, local media reported that a car bomb exploded in an army facility in the Colombian city of Cucuta, at around 3:30 p.m., local time.
Videos shared on social media allegedly show the moment of the explosion and its aftermath.
JUST IN 🚨 Strong explosion reported in the complex of the National Army, located in Cúcuta, Colombia
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) June 15, 2021
pic.twitter.com/p8dH1eiIdu
#Cúcuta Primeras imágenes de lo que sería un carro bomba en el batallón de Cúcuta. pic.twitter.com/RWesQUpkDb
— Boris Tejada (@boristejada) June 15, 2021
Colombia. Emergencia en Cúcuta. Explosión al interior de instalación militar. pic.twitter.com/3UQBhVW1gS
— Patricia Villegas Marin (@pvillegas_tlSUR) June 15, 2021
