Truck Bomb Blast Outside Colombia Police Base Injures 11 and Kills Police Dog

A powerful truck bomb exploded outside a police base in the Colombian city of Cucuta early Saturday, injuring 11 people and killing a police dog in what officials condemned as a vile terrorist attack.

The pre-dawn blast occurred in a building that serves as the police headquarters for Norte de Santander Province, near the border with Venezuela, an area long contested by drug gangs and rebel groups.

The explosion caused extensive damage, tearing through much of the building’s roofing and shattering its windows.

Local officials confirmed the casualties included eight police officers and three civilians.

The police dog, whose specific name has not been released, was killed in the detonation.

“This was a vile terrorist attack,” said General William Rincon, Colombia’s police director, adding that authorities will not rest until those responsible are found and prosecuted.

Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez blamed the National Liberation Army rebel group, known as the ELN, for the attack and announced a $60,000 reward for information leading to the perpetrators.

The attack comes just six days before President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella, an ultra-conservative who has promised to cancel peace talks with rebel groups, is set to be sworn into office in the city of Cali on August 7.

De la Espriella condemned the bombing in the strongest terms, stating that “terrorism will not intimidate Colombia”.

The ELN, Colombia’s largest remaining rebel group, has been fighting the government for decades and is believed to have roughly 6,000 fighters operating across Colombia and neighboring Venezuela.

Originally founded in the 1960s by union leaders and students seeking social justice, authorities say the group has largely transformed into a criminal organization profiting from illegal gold mining and drug trafficking.