Motorcycle bomb kills 6 in western Colombia

Motorcycle bomb kills 6 in western Colombia

2012-02-02 22:18:38 GMT+7 (ICT)

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA (BNO NEWS) -- Six people were killed and more than two dozen others were injured when a motorcycle bomb detonated in western Colombia on Wednesday, officials said on Thursday.

The attack happened at around 2 p.m. local time when a motorcycle strapped with explosives detonated in front of a police station in the Colombian municipality of Tumaco, which is located in the Nariño Department.

The powerful explosion killed at least six people, including three civilians and three police officers, officials said. Another 26 people were said to be injured, but their conditions were not immediately known.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos confirmed the number of deaths and condemned the act, which he described as a 'terrorist act' and a "demonstration of desperation."

While government officials blamed the attack on the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, commonly known as FARC, Police Citizen Protection chief General Rodolfo Palomino offered a 100 million pesos ($55,600) reward for a tip leading to the capture of those responsible.

On Tuesday, bomb squad personnel were able to deactivate a car bomb located in the Altaquer area on a road from Pasto to Tumaco.

FARC was formed in 1964 and is structured as a military organization, with approximately 10,000 armed guerillas organized into seven "blocs," 68 numbered "Fronts", nine named "Fronts," and four urban "militias." The group is present in 24 of the 32 departments of the South American country.

The rebel group is dedicated to the violent overthrow of Colombia's democratically-elected government.

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