At least six people were killed and 20 others injured when a car bomb exploded outside the mayor’s office in the Colombian Pacific port city of Buenaventura March 25. Gen. Freddy Padilla, the head of Colombia’s armed forces, blamed the country’s guerillas. “Surely this was the FARC,” he said. President Alvaro Uribe announced a $150,000 reward for information leading to those responsible. (AlJazeera, March 25)
The blast came the day after Colombian army troops rescued five local oil contractors kidnapped five days ago by FARC fighters near the Caricare oilfield in Arauca department near the Venezuelan border. The men were working for oil service companies Tuboscope and Tecnioriente, contracted by the local unit of Occidental Petroleum. (AlJazeera, March 25)
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Arrest in Buenaventura blast
Authorities on March 27 announced the capture of a man said to be responsible for the Buenaventura car bomb blast, which has now claimed the lives of nine civilians. Police captured Jairo Andres Castaño in the Terron Colorado neighborhood of Calí. Investigations are underway to identify whether he is linked to the FARC. Authorities also announced that the victims of the attack would receive compensation of up to $10,000 from the state. (Colombia Reports, March 27)