Alleged ELN guerrillas forced drivers to get out of their vehicles in order to set them on fire. Photo:Screenshot
It was like a return to the past, to the worst times of the war in Colombia. That’s how drivers felt as they traveled along the main road to the Atlantic Coast on Thursday night when, Several armed men who identified themselves as ELN guerrillas set fire to a public bus and three tractor-trailers. The incident occurred between Valdivia and Tarazá.
“Dude, look. The guerrillas came out, brother, they crossed this car and burned four cars here, brother,” reported the driver of another vehicle while recording the terrifying scene with his mobile device.
Videos recorded by drivers show the scale of the terrorist attack perpetrated by the ELN on the highway connecting Medellín with the Atlantic Coast. pic.twitter.com/Nrzrk3Zd9g
— Teleantioquia (@Teleantioquia) August 30, 2024
“Puerto Valdivia, look, at this time. The guerrillas are burning cars,” said another driver who got out of the vehicle to record what was happening with his cell phone.
After committing the terrorist attack, the guerrillas hung an ELN flag on the side of the road and fled.
Before fleeing, the guerrillas hung the ELN flag on the side of the road. Photo: Private archive
The Association of Cargo Transporters (ATC) recommended that heavy-load drivers take extreme security measures due to the current public order situation in the country. “We urge truck drivers to take extreme care and avoid driving at night”they recommended on their X account.
Army troops deployed
Given the delicate situation, The governor of Antioquia, Andrés Julián Rendón, reported that troops from the National Army went to the sector to provide security. to the truck drivers and travellers who, between Thursday night and early Friday morning, were trapped and unable to move along the important road.
I have been informed that, on the road leading to the Atlantic Coast, between Puerto Valdivia and Tarazá, criminals committed a terrorist act by setting fire to two vehicles. Among them, a public service bus. @COL_EJERCITO is coming to the area to ensure the… pic.twitter.com/wb1hgbDJ7E
— Andres Julian (@AndresJRendonC) August 30, 2024
“I have been informed that, on the road leading to the Atlantic Coast, between Puerto Valdivia and Tarazá, criminals committed a terrorist act by setting fire to two vehicles. Among them, a public bus. The Army is arriving in the area to ensure security and restore public order,” the president assured in his X account.
2024-08-30 05:10:11
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