Who is Responsible for the Explosions in Bogota, Colombia?
Photo showing the facade of the office of organization Porvenir in Bogota where one of the bombs exploded. Image from Twitter user, Andreína Márquez @mintina
On July 4, the explosion of two devices – within an hour of each other – in the north and west of Bogota left eight people injured and led to much speculation about who was behind the attacks. No group claimed responsibility. The explosions took place as the Colombian government and militant group FARC in Havana continued peace talks in Havana.
Es ingenuo creer que en Bogotá explotan dos bombas y las autoridades pueden ocultarlo. Los twiteros no lo permitiríamos.
— Ricardo Galán (@RicardoGalanO) julio 4, 2015
It is naive to believe that two bombs explode in Bogota and the authorities can hide it. The Twitter community will not allow it.
La pesadilla de las bombas vuelve a Colombia. Los mismos de siempre. Los que hablan de paz con las armas en la mano. — Álvaro J. Amoretti (@aamorettivp) julio 3, 2015
The bomb nightmare returns to Colombia. The usual suspects. Those who speak of peace with weapons in their hands.
Tristeza gente defiendiendo a Farc porque,al parecer,fue el ELN quienes colocaron las bombas en Bogotá. Terorristas son terroristas y listo!
— Jaime Carvajal (@JaimeCarvajalD) julio 3, 2015
Such sadness that people are defending the FARC as it would seem it was the ELN who planted the bombs in Bogota. Terrorists are terrorists and that's it!
Terrorismo en Bogota:Uso de pentolita y detonación por celular en bombas indica existencia de célula terrorista profesional detrás de ataque — Roman D. Ortiz (@roman_d_ortiz) julio 3, 2015
Terrorism in Bogota: The use of pentolite and remote detonation by mobile phone suggest there is a professional terrorist cell behind the attack
¿Quién puso las bombas de esta tarde? Hay que preguntarse, ¿quién sale ganando con todo esto?
— Jonathan Fortich (@fortich79) julio 2, 2015
Who planted the bombs this afternoon? The question must be asked: who stands to gain from this?
Los tuiteros estamos en debate de quien puso las bombas. Candidatos: Las FARC o la Ultraderecha. No hay espacio para otro.Así o más radical? — Felipe Ojeda (@FelipeOjeda7) julio 2, 2015
The Twitter community is debating who planted the bombs. Candidates: the FARC or extreme right. There's no room for other options, right? Or is it more radical?
The first explosion took place at 15:45 local time (20:45GMT) and approximately one hour later, another office belonging to a financial institution was shaken by a second explosion.
Some relate this attack with the upcoming regional elections in Colombia scheduled for October 25, where government positions, deputies of departmental assemblies, mayors, municipal councillors and mayors of local administrative boards will be chosen:
Con bombas y platillos comenzó oficialmente la campaña electoral del Centro Democrático en Bogotá.
— Sebastián Trujillo (@BaldomeroPessoa) julio 2, 2015
With bells and whistles began the official electoral campaign for the Democratic Centre in Bogota.
Una sociedad dónde los políticos suben en las encuestas a mayor número de bombas y muertos, es una sociedad perdida. Lastima por Colombia. — Wilber Preciado (@wilberpreciado) julio 3, 2015
A society where politicians rise in the polls according to the rise in number of bombs and deaths, is a lost society. What a shame for Colombia.
Adivinanza: Quien puso las bombas de Bogotá? – Blanco por fuera, frito se come y en el centro…. democrático😉
— ricardo reestrepo (@rmrestrepoa) julio 6, 2015
Trivia: Who planted the bombs in Bogota? – White on the outside, eaten fried and in the centre….. democratic😉
Following the incidents, false recordings of people announcing further possible attacks were made public according to the National Police, who then made an appeal to citizens not to replicate the messages on social networks; the initiative has received a lot of support:
Es infundada la versión sobre carro bomba y su eventual desactivación en Bogotá, no creer en rumores
— Policía de Colombia (@PoliciaColombia) julio 4, 2015
The story of a car bomb and its eventual detonation in Bogota is completely unfounded. Don't believe in rumours
La persona que realizó la grabación alertando de falsas bombas debe ser castigad penalmente. Es igual de terrorista que los de las bombas.
— Juan Manuel Quintero (@JuanMQuinteroG) julio 4, 2015
The person that recorded the audio warning of false bombs should be criminally punished. It is an act of terrorism equal to that of the bombs.
Por favor no crean en cadenas falsas de bombas y ese tipo de perversos mensajes. Nosotros avisaremos por canales oficiales cualquier novedad
— General Palomino (@GeneralPalomino) julio 3, 2015
Please do not believe in false bomb stories or any other perverse messages. We will notify of any developments through official channels of communication.
Colombian authorities are still investigating the explosions at the offices of pension fund Porvenir, while at a press conference the Mayor of Bogota, Gustavo Petro pointed the finger at members of the Domingo Laín Front, from the guerrilla group ELN (National Liberation Army), as those presumed responsible for the attack.
