Explosions claim 16 lives in Colombia

Two car bombs and an explosion during a military raid on a rebel arsenal killed at least 16 people, including five civilians, …

Two car bombs and an explosion during a military raid on a rebel arsenal killed at least 16 people, including five civilians, in 24 hours of violence throughout Colombia, authorities reported.

A car bomb went off this morning near the headquarters of Caracol radio in central Bogota causing some damage but no injuries, said police.

Bogota
Colombian police inspect the remains of a car after a bomb blast in Bogota.

Another car bomb killed five civilians, including two children, and injured 40 police and soldiers yesterday in Florence, 450 kilometers south of Bogota. The bomb was timed to go off as a military patrol went by, police said.

No organisation has claimed either car bombing and authorities have no clues as to who may be responsible.

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Seven soldiers lost their lives when two tonnes of explosives blew up inside a house in Dorado, 280 kilometers southeast of Bogota, military sources there reported.

The explosion took place yesterday during a raid on the house used by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) to store ammunition and explosives.

Four guerrillas were killed during a firefight before the house was stormed by troops, the sources said. Another seven rebels were captured.

Twenty-two soldiers were reported missing after the raid and some were feared killed in the explosion.

AFP