At least 11 people were injured on Saturday, August 1st, 2026, when a truck packed with explosives detonated next to a police station in Cucuta, Colombia, near the border with Venezuela. The blast occurred six days before President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella's inauguration, who is set to replace outgoing President Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s first left-wing leader.

George Quintero, security secretary for the department of Norte de Santander where the attack took place, told reporters, "At this time, we have eight police officers and three civilians who have been injured." He described the incident as "an atrocious, violent act ... and what happened is regrettable."

De la Espriella condemned the bombing "in the strongest terms," stating on the social media platform X that he condemned "the cowardly terrorist attack carried out in Cucuta against our National Police." He added, "terrorism will not intimidate Colombia."

During his campaign, de la Espriella told The Associated Press, “Any plane that takes off loaded with drugs — as commander-in-chief, I will order the Air Force to shoot it down.”

Authorities are offering a reward equivalent to more than $32,000 for information leading to the capture of those responsible. Several armed groups, including the National Liberation Army (ELN), dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and the criminal group Clan del Golfo, remain active in the region.

The attack comes amid ongoing security challenges in Colombia. In 2025, right-wing presidential hopeful and senator Miguel Uribe Turbay was shot at an event in Bogota and later died. Meanwhile, outgoing President Gustavo Petro recently traveled to Havana to discuss U.S. policies with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel.

De la Espriella’s mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was famously killed during Colombia’s internal conflict in 1991 after being kidnapped by criminal forces.

Sources