A helicopter carrying Colombian President Ivan Duque and senior officials was chased away by unknown assailants who reportedly hit boats several times, in what the head of state accused of being a "cowardly attack."
The incident happened near Camilo Daza airport in the city of Cucuta on Friday when Duque and other officials were returning from a meeting in a nearby town, according to local media reports. The president himself confirmed the attack on Friday, saying he had "instructed security forces to track down those who shot down a plane and put lives at risk."(ads2)
“It has been a cowardly attack. As a government we will not waver for a minute, or a day, in the fight against drug trafficking, terrorism and organized crime groups operating in the country, ”Duque said in a statement.
Unconfirmed photos have already surfaced online showing the time when a helicopter was attacked, and what sounded like a small arm fire could be heard in the distance as art passed by. Some photos and videos streamed to local sources have taken the form of a helicopter afterwards, showing several holes stuck in the car, including one of its propellers and a panel covering its engine.
No one was injured in the attack and the department was able to remain calm, the presidency confirmed, although media reports said the chopper had been beaten five or six times. In addition to Duque, the helicopter was carrying Defense Minister Diego Molano and Interior Minister Daniel Palacios, as well as Silvano Serrano, governor of Norte de Santander, and Cucuta Mayor Jairo Yanez.
As authorities investigate the attack and search for the suspects, all flights at Camilo Daza airport have been suspended, reports El Spectador. To date, no person or organization has claimed responsibility for the attack on the helicopter, and officials have never accused anyone of any actor.
At the time of the incident, Duque and other officials were returning from a visit to the city of Sardinata to discuss local investment projects and the fight against drug trafficking in the region. Many criminal gangs are known to operate in the province of Norte de Santander, where Cucuta and Sardinata are located, as well as the remains of the FARC rebel group and active ELN cells, another armed guerilla group.
While the FARC, or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, made a major peace agreement with the government in 2016 and agreed to lay down its arms after decades of fighting, separatist groups continued to operate in Colombia's rural areas, especially in the Norte de Santander, on the Venezuelan border.(ads1)
The helicopter attack follows a series of violent protests across the country, which began in late April by a controversial revolution introduced by Duque. While the proposal was withdrawn from then on, protests continued with the government's response to previous rallies, in which more than a dozen protesters were killed during clashes with violent police. Two police officers and a police investigator also lost their lives in the clashes, according to Human Rights Watch.
As protesters announced the end of regular protests last week, a senior union leader warned on Thursday that they could rule if the government did not meet the demands of the protesters, which focused on economic transformation in low-income communities, and cases of police brutality.
Friday's apparent attempt to shoot back comes after two car bombs exploded outside a Cucuta military base earlier this month, leaving 36 wounded, including two U.S. military advisers standing on the ground. While Defense Minister Molano said the government's "first impression" points to the involvement of the ELN, the rebel group later denied any involvement in the attack.
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