The mayor of Medellín, Federico Gutiérrez, did not hesitate to describe as terrorists nearly 40 hooded men who took over a sector of the University of Antioquia on June 3, 72 hours after the first presidential round.
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One of the subjects carried a firearm with which he shot at the police tanks of the old Esmad, that they had to intervene so that the violent episode did not escalate.
And although initially attention was focused on the modified weapons that several of the hooded men used to throw potato bombs and Molotov cocktails, He then moved to the house of the man with the gun.
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Intelligence reports
In the raid on alias Cuervo’s home, they seized material alluding to the ELN. Photo:Social networks
There they found flags of the ELN guerrilla, false credentials as a journalist and human rights defender, military clothing, a drone and instructions for making explosives.
The man was identified as Diego Manuel Guzmán Gallón, alias Cuervo, 27 years old, captured in the Castilla neighborhood. For intelligence agencies, this case is proof that several of the riots that have occurred in universities and Even at candidate headquarters they go beyond dangerous demonstrations overflowing with supporters.
EL TIEMPO learned of a Police document in which it is stated that ‘Cuervo’ is the coordinator of violent demonstrations, promoter of political activities and indoctrination of young people and who has knowledge in the production of explosive devices.
These intelligence findings fit with statements from candidates such as Abelardo de la Espriella, who said last Thursday that “They are preparing a second social outbreak to ignore the elections, set the country on fire and lead us to a situation as regrettable as that of 2021.”
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The candidate refers to President Petro’s statements of not recognizing the results of the pre-count, but also to the attack that his campaign headquarters suffered in the Teusaquillo neighborhood of Bogotá where a horde with Cepeda banners held back his supporters, who reported verbal attacks and intimidation.
Attacks on the campaign headquarters of Paloma Valencia and Juan Daniel Oviedo. Photo:Social networks
The Paloma Valencia headquarters in Chapinero had already been vandalized two weeks before. Protesters destroyed doors, advertising and left hateful messages on walls.
And in Medellín, on April 26, the campaign headquarters of the Historic Pact candidate, Iván Cepeda, was vandalized for the second time. According to reports, several people threw stones and paint at the façade and at an LED screen on which advertising for the candidate is displayed.
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The fear is that some expressions of polarization and hatred are exploited by extremist groups.
The other universities
Juan Felipe Murgueitio, Cali councilor of the Democratic Center party. Photo:Social networks
In Cali, councilor Juan Felipe Murgueitio, of the Democratic Center, denounced the existence of a WhatsApp chat – which is already being investigated – with nearly 500 people in which riots and acts were being promoted. vandalism in the scenario of Abelardo de la Espriella winning the second round.
The complaint was made parallel to the record of violent events at the Universidad del Valle, where classes were suspended after the student assembly announced a strike until June 23 and support for Cepeda.
The rector of that institution assured that there is information that several people who participate in the protests and In violent acts they do not belong to the student community and come from other cities.
In videos circulating on networks, hooded subjects with masks are seen guarding the entrances to the university.
And it is verified whether, as in Medellín, illegal armed groups They are infiltrating the student protest with members of their urban cells.
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Its mayor, Alejandro Éder, assured: “We respect the peaceful demonstration, we respect the rights of each citizen, but tolerance for violence, for vandalism, for blockades will be zero.”
The mayor of Bogotá, Carlos Fernando Galán. Photo:Courtesy
And in Bogotá there have been clashes between the police and hooded men at the headquarters of the National University and the Pedagogical University. Although in this last case managers have linked the issue to crashes due to crashes in TransMilenio, in the capital they also There is information about plans to generate violence in the context of the second presidential round.
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“Today’s acts of vandalism are not a social manifestation, they are violence, and what is more serious, driven by statements from President Petro himself,” said Mayor Carlos Galán on May 21.
The Ministry of Defense announced up to 200 million pesos for information that allows preventing violent events ahead of the second round. And intelligence officials have already identified several alleged leaders who seek to disrupt public order.
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