AhlulBayt News Agency

source : CNN
Saturday

19 January 2019

1:08:40 PM
925448

At least 20 killed in car bomb attack at Colombia police academy

At least 20 people were killed Thursday after a car bomb detonated in the Colombian capital of Bogota, according to the country's National Police.

AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): At least 20 people were killed Thursday after a car bomb detonated in the Colombian capital of Bogota, according to the country's National Police.

Police said 68 others were injured in the blast, which occurred outside the Gen. Santander National Police Academy.

A high-ranking police official told CNN that the explosion appeared to be the result of a suicide attack.

The perpetrator, identified as José Aldemar Rojas Rodríguez, also died in the attack, police said in a statement.

Attorney General Nestor Humberto Martinez said Rojas Rodriguez allegedly had approximately 80 kilograms of explosives when he entered the police academy forcibly. Rojas Rodríguez rammed a vehicle onto the grounds of the academy at full speed and ignored calls to stop, according to police.

Colombian President Ivan Duque condemned the attack as terrorism and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.

He later visited the scene, where he ordered the police and armed forces to "determine who the people behind this vile attack are."

He also proclaimed a three-day period of mourning.

"From the moment of the events we have provided assistance and accompaniment to families. To all of them I send my love, my gratitude," he said.

Colombian President Ivan Duque walks to a news conference at the police cadet training school in Bogota after a car bomb attack at the academy.

Both Duque and the attorney general said an investigation is underway to identify any others behind the attack but did not provide further details.

One of the police cadets killed was a 21-year-old woman from Ecuador who was studying at the academy, Ecuador President Lenín Moreno said.