An explosive device was detonated on Friday morning in the heart of Florencia, Caquetá, just one block away from the municipal government building, causing panic among the residents and shopkeepers in the area. The explosion resulted in several affected premises and considerable material damage, although an official injury count has not been confirmed yet.
PUBLICIDAD
The explosion occurred in a high-traffic area, causing dozens of people in the area to flee in search of shelter. Witnesses reported that minutes after the incident, ambulance sirens could be heard, as well as a strong deployment of the Police and the National Army, who cordoned off the area and began verification tasks.
PUBLICIDAD
Explosion in the center of Florence causes panic and leaves several businesses affected
The situation worsens because, a day before the attack, intimidating audio messages were circulated warning citizens to avoid going to the city center due to possible attacks. These messages instilled fear, although many dismissed them. Now, with the explosion, authorities are investigating if there is a direct connection between these threats and the attack.
The mayor of Florencia, along with the Caquetá Governorship, condemned the act and assured that it is an act of terrorism aimed at disrupting public order and sowing fear among the population. “We will not give in to these intimidations. The Public Force is already deployed in different sectors of the city to guarantee the security of the people of Florencia,” stated the local leader.
On its part, the Army confirmed that specialized explosive ordnance disposal units are working at the site to rule out the presence of other devices and collect evidence to help identify those responsible. The main hypothesis points to the action of illegal armed groups that are active in the department and have intensified their attacks against the institutions in recent months.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Ombudsman and the Municipal Attorney’s Office began visiting the affected establishments to take a census of those affected and coordinate immediate assistance.
With a climate of tension, the citizens of Florencia are demanding greater security and decisive actions against the violent actors who seek to destabilize the region. Authorities have announced an extraordinary Security Council meeting for this Friday, where new measures will be defined to confront the threat hanging over the capital of Caquetá.