Colombia: Bogota bomb blast targets former interior minister Fernando Londono
Police officers inspect the wreckage of the car of former interior minister Fernando Londono on May 15, 2012 after an explosion ripped through a crowded area of Bogota’s commercial district.
A rare bomb attack in the heart of Bogota’s commercial district today killed five people and injured at least 17 others, including a former interior minister who was the target, Agence France-Presse reported.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos condemned the bombing, which injured Fernando Londono and killed his driver and a police escort.
“We condemn this attack … this government will not be thrown off course by these terrorist attacks. We will stay the course and carry out all the investigations needed to find the culprits," Santos was quoted by Reuters as saying.
"This was an attack against former minister Fernando Londono. Unfortunately his driver and a police officer have died."
An earlier report by the Associated Press said two people had been killed and 19 injured.
Local media reported that the bomb was in a bus, but Al Jazeera said it had been placed on top of the vehicle of Londono.
Londono was the interior minister from 2002 to 2004 under former President Alvaro Uribe, who led a crackdown on the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) during his time in office.
The conservative politician is a strong supporter of Uribe and uses a daily radio program and newspaper column to launch stinging attacks on FARC, according to Al Jazeera.
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