Colombia: Bombing at Antioquia campaign rally March 3

Event

A homemade bomb detonated during a campaign rally taking place in Segovia, located in the northeast of Antioquia department, on Saturday, March 3. The low-intensity explosion, which occurred around 13:00 (local time) during a rally for a senate candidate from the Colombian Conservative Party (Partido Conservador Colombiano), left nine people people injured.

Context

Parliamentary elections will be held throughout the country on Sunday, March 11, to be following by presidential elections on May 27. Other incidents of violence have broken out in other parts of the country, including a suspected assassination attempt against presidential candidate Gustavo Petro on March 2 in Cúcuta (Norte de Santander department) as well as clashes at protests (e.g. in Popayán, Cauca).

Furthermore, while no credible threats have been publicly released, the Colombian Ombudsman's Office warned in late February that paramilitary armed groups could stage attacks during the election period. Further incidents of political violence by paramilitaries or other groups are possible in the lead-up to the votes, as well as on election days and after the release of election results. Heightened security measures are anticipated around any political event and in the vicinity of polling stations.

Advice

Individuals in Colombia are advised to keep abreast of the situation, avoid all demonstrations as a precaution, and adhere to any instructions issued by local authorities. Due to the presence of a number of armed groups - including drug cartels, right-wing militias, local gangs, and the ELN guerrilla group - many Western governments advise against travel to various regions of the country, including parts of Antioquia.