15 Arrested Over Bogota Bombings
BOGOTA, July 8 (UPI) — Colombia’s National Police announced that 15 people have been arrested with potential links to the two small intimidatory bombings recently carried out in Bogota. Three women, two university professors and two district administration officials were among those arrested. Some are accused of being members of the National Liberation Army (ELN) left-wing rebel group, which also carried out attacks in Bogota last year.About eight people were injured, but not seriously, in Thursday’s attack when two small bombs detonated in Bogota. Defense Secretary Luis Carlos Villegas said the explosions were meant to intimidate.
Created in 1964, the ELN was formed by intellectuals inspired by the Cuban revolution and Marxist ideology. The group was seen as more politically motivated than Colombia’s largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
The ELN initially abstained from participating in the drug trade, but since the decline from its highest power in the late 1990s, it formed alliances with criminal gangs and became involved drug trafficking.
Current ELN membership ranks are estimated to be as low 1,500 from a previous high of 4,000.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos took to Twitter to praise efforts in capturing the suspects.
“Captured 11 ELN people responsible for firecrackers in Bogota. Congratulations to the Colombian Police and Attorney General’s Office. They will pay for the attacks!” Santos said, later adding that operations will continue to capture all responsible for “terrorizing the capital.”
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