Terrorism in Colombia

Terrorism in Colombia has occurred repeatedly during the last several decades, largely due to the ongoing armed conflict the country has been involved in since 1964. Perpetrators of terrorist acts in the country range from leftist guerilla forces including FARC, ELN and M-19, to drug cartels such as the Medellín Cartel, to right-wing paramilitary forces including the AUC.

Terror groups

Notable groups involved in terror attacks include:

Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)
National Liberation Army (ELN)
19th of April Movement (M19)
Medellin Cartel
AUC

Counterterrorism efforts

During the early 21st century, the number of known and suspected terrorists killed, captured, or surrendered fell as terror groups changed their tactics, while casualties rose. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) reverted to hit-and-run attacks rather than engage in large unit encounters.^[1]

In November, 2011, security forces killed FARC leader Guillermo León Sáenz Vargas, also known as "Alfonso Cano."^[1]

Demobilization and reintegration efforts

Colombia has employed a multi-agency approach to countering radicalization and discouraging violent extremism. The government's program focuses on encouraging individual members units of the FARC and ELN to demobilize and reintegrate into society. Demobilization and reintegration programs provide medical care, psychological counseling, education benefits, and job placement assistance. Recidivism rates were estimated at between 10 and 20 percent by the Colombian Agency for Reintegration. Additionally, the Ministry of Defense has organized a number of public festivals and social events with celebrity participation to discourage the recruitment of vulnerable youth.^[2]

In 2013, a total of 1,350 FARC and ELN members had demobilized.^[2]

Attacks

2011

February 11, 2011 – Five civilians were killed in San Miguel, Putumayo in a mortar attack. The mortar was fired by suspected FARC terrorists and landed near a police post along with a baby.^[1]
June 25, 2011 – Suspected ELN rebels attacked a police outpost in Colon Genova, Narino, using explosives and small-arms fire. Eight civilians were killed.^[1]
September 18, 2011 – Several mortars were launched at an army base in La Macarena, Meta Department. The attack injured several civilians.^[1]
October 30, 2011 – The armored convoy of Albeiro Vanegas, Vice President of the House of Representatives was attacked by suspected ELN terrorists. Vanegas was unharmed, but his driver was killed.^[1]

2017

June 17, 2017: Centro Andino bombing – An explosion at the Centro Andino shopping mall killed 3 people. The attack was condemned as a terrorist attack and the authors remain unknown.^[3]

2018

January 27, 2018: 2018 Colombia police stations attacks – Two hand grenades were thrown at the police stations of Barranquilla and Santa Rosa del Sur, killing seven officers and one perpetrator. The ELN was responsible for the attack.^[4]

2019

January 17, 2019: 2019 Bogotá car bombing – The guerrilla rebel group ELN took the responsibility of the explosion of a car bomb inside the General Santander National Police Academy. The attack killed 21 people and injured several others.^[5]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Chapter 2: Country Reports, Western Hemisphere Review. 2011 Incidents." US State Department. Accessed January 30, 2015.
^ ^a ^b "2013 Report." State Department. Accessed February 11, 2015.
^ "Shopping Center Blast in Colombia Kills 3 and Injures 9". The New York Times. 18 June 2017.
^ Daniels, Joe Parkin (28 January 2018). "Colombia Police Station Bombings Kill 7 Officers". The New York Times.
^ Vyas, Kejal (22 January 2019). "Colombian Rebel Group Claims Responsibility for Police Bombing". Wall Street Journal.

[US2011-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Chapter 2: Country Reports, Western Hemisphere Review. 2011 Incidents." US State Department. Accessed January 30, 2015.

[US2013-2] "2013 Report." State Department. Accessed February 11, 2015.

[3] "Shopping Center Blast in Colombia Kills 3 and Injures 9". The New York Times. 18 June 2017.

[4] Daniels, Joe Parkin (28 January 2018). "Colombia Police Station Bombings Kill 7 Officers". The New York Times.

[5] Vyas, Kejal (22 January 2019). "Colombian Rebel Group Claims Responsibility for Police Bombing". Wall Street Journal.

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v t e Terrorism in Latin America
Terrorism by Country	Argentina Brazil Bolivia Chile Colombia Ecuador Mexico Peru
Terrorism by Ideology	Left-wing terrorism Right-wing terrorism Islamic terrorism
Active groups	Al-Qaeda Ansar al-Khilafah Brazil Jihad Media Battalion Hezbollah in Latin America Hamas Islamic Jihad Al-Jama'a al-Islamiyya Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group National Liberation Army (Colombia)
Inactive groups	Shindo Renmei 19th of April Movement Medellín Cartel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia

v t e Terrorism in the Americas
Sovereign states	Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Bahamas Barbados Belize Bolivia Brazil Canada Chile Colombia Costa Rica Cuba Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Grenada Guatemala Guyana Haiti Honduras Jamaica Mexico Nicaragua Panama Paraguay Peru Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Suriname Trinidad and Tobago United States Uruguay Venezuela
Dependencies and territories	Anguilla Aruba Bermuda Bonaire British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Curaçao Falkland Islands French Guiana Greenland Guadeloupe Martinique Montserrat Puerto Rico Saba Saint Barthélemy Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Sint Eustatius Sint Maarten South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Turks and Caicos Islands U.S. Virgin Islands
North America Central America Caribbean South America