The violence that has gripped the Colombian capital of Bogota is spiraling out of control, as evidenced by the shocking events that have unfolded this month alone. On August 17th, a raid conducted by the Colombia Attorney General’s office uncovered a trove of 295 grenades and other war material inside a house in the south of Bogota. Two days before this, three men were killed in the Santiago Cristóbal neighborhood after heavily armed assailants opened fire on a house.
The arsenal was discovered thanks to information from military intelligence, and two cell phones and half a package of 7.62 caliber ammunition were also found in the house, which are now at the disposal of authorities. No arrests were made during the 13-hour operation, but the discovery of explosives has put the city on high alert.
The uncovering of the weapons cache brings to mind the recent warning issued by the Colombian government that the National Liberation Army (ELN) was sending a senior member nicknamed ‘William’ to Bogota. William is known to the ELN as both a bomber and a sniper and could be gearing up for attacks on public forces, civilian targets, government personalities, and infrastructure of strategic interest.
Questions now arise regarding who the 295 grenades belong to and what else is hidden within Colombia’s capital city. The Colombian authorities have launched an investigation into the case, and have requested that the Metropolitan Police of Bogota implement a terrorism intelligence council in order to uncover any potential terrorist threats that may exist.
Following the dramatic events of the past two weeks, many Colombians are now living in fear, not knowing what the future may bring. As violence continues to erupt throughout the streets of the capital city, it is critical that the Colombian government take decisive and effective measures to ensure the safety of its citizens. Only then can we hope to break this terrible spiral of violence.
With information from Semana
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