Colombia: Two explosive attacks at Cucuta airport leave at least three dead

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Two explosions at the airport of Cúcuta, Colombia, left at least three dead, in what the government of Iván Duque described as terrorist acts.

The explosions occurred within almost an hour, and “there are remains of two uniformed men”, according to the journalist’s testimony at the scene. The third fatality is one of the attackers.

Through Twitter, President Iván Duque repudiated “the terrorist attack” and ordered “immediate actions to find those responsible for this attack”.

Defense Minister Diego Molano said that the first detonation was recorded at 5:45 a.m. Colombia time when a man, who was trying to enter the runway of the air terminal by jumping over a fence, was blown up by an explosive device, causing his death, reported El Colombiano.

“He was a bandit who had a terrorist intention against some of the assets at the airport,” the minister said.

The Colombian government had deployed 35 members of the army, and police units were on the scene to deal with the emergency, reported El Colombiano.

The airport was evacuated, and air operations were suspended.

The impact of the first explosion damaged homes near the air terminal, reported El Espectador.

According to the Colombian press, the bomb experts who died were identified as Intendant David Reyes and William Barrero. Both had been transferred to Cucuta after defusing a car bomb in El Tarra with 300 kilos of explosives and were nominated for Police Excellence awards.

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