With profound rejection and a widespread call to protect freedom of the press, different opinion leaders, institutions and human rights organizations spoke out after learning of the bomb threats reported at the facilities of Snail Televisionwhere the workers had to evacuate, and Snail Radiowhich also reported that it received a notice from the competent authorities about a possible attack against the company.
READ ALSO
“Snail Television was informed by the authorities of the intention of illegal groups to attack the channel. We adopt all measures to protect our staff and facilities. Any additional information will be provided by the competent authorities“wrote the media outlet on its social networks.
While Snail Radio indicated: “Caracol Radio was informed in the last few hours by the authorities about the risk of a possible attack against our company and other media outlets. In coordination with the authorities, we activate the protocols and preventive measures necessary to protect our journalists, collaborators and visitors“.
Furthermore, they added: “Our commitment is to continue informing Colombia with rigor, independence and responsibility. Carrying out this task requires guarantees for those who work every day at the service of citizens’ right to be informed. Protecting those who inform is defending press freedom and democracy. With serenity and firmness we will continue to accompany the country.”
On the other hand, the Bogotá Metropolitan Police confirmed, in a brief statement, that they found no evidence of explosives in the vicinity or inside of Snail TV.
President Abelardo De la Espriella orders protection measures
The president of the Republic, Abelardo De La Espriella, spoke through his account on X, where he indicated that will not allow narcoterrorism to intimidate Colombian journalism.
“Given the intelligence alerts about possible terrorist attacks by the ELN against the facilities of RCN and Caracol TelevisionI have given precise instructions so that all the capacity of the State is turn to protect these media outlets, their journalists, workers and families“he stated.
He also reported that he gave instructions to the authorities to strengthen the protection of the magazine Weekin order to avoid any attack.
“Freedom of the press is sacred and respected! No narcoterrorist group is going to silence the media through threats, intimidation or acts of violence. All my solidarity with the journalists of Colombia. “They are not alone”he indicated.
Institutional rejection of threats
The Ombudsman, Iris Marín, pointed out, through her account on X (formerly Twitter), that these threats against the two media outlets are “serious and worrying.”
“We express our solidarity with all the people who work there and reject any form of intimidation or violence against the press. We ask the authorities to clarify what happened as soon as possible, establish the veracity of the information and adopt all necessary measures to protect those who work at this headquarters. Guaranteeing the safety of journalists and the conditions for the free, independent and unintimidated exercise of journalism is an obligation of the State and an essential guarantee of all democracy,” he indicated.
On the other hand, the attorney Gregorio Eljach also condemned the intentions of illegal groups to attack the channel.
“No intimidation can undermine freedom of the press or prevent the free exercise of journalism in Colombia. Attacking the media is attacking democracy. I call on the authorities to investigate these events and guarantee the safety of the workers of this television channel.“, he stated.
Likewise, he categorically repudiated the threats against Snail Radio and the other media, and reiterated the importance of protecting freedom of the press, a fundamental right and indispensable pillar for the “functioning of a democratic society and guaranteeing the free and safe exercise of journalism in Colombia.”
The National Registry of Civil Status also condemned the threats faced by the press in the country and its workers.
“Any attempt at intimidation or violence against the press is against freedom of expression, democracy and the right of citizens to be informed“he noted.
Likewise, through a statement, the Comptroller General of the Republic He also forcefully rejected the threats and intimidation, and expressed his solidarity with journalists and media workers.
“We call on the competent authorities to clarify the facts, identify those responsible and adopt necessary measures to guarantee their safety,” assured the entity.
Journalists and media join forces to protect press freedom
After knowing the alerts, the Foundation for Freedom of the Press (Flip) expressed its “deep concern about the alerts of possible attacks against media outlets in Bogotá.”
According to the organization, in charge of ensuring the rights of those who practice journalism in Colombia, “Just because no explosives have been found does not mean that the risk has ceased. Alerts require monitoring and effective protection. Our solidarity with those who work in these media. Reporting cannot put their lives in danger. “We continue to document the case.”
And he added: “We demand that the Government and the Police guarantee immediate protection, in coordination with the media and their workers. U“We urge the Prosecutor’s Office to clarify the origin and scope of these threats and identify those responsible.”
For its part, the Colombian Media Association (AMI) also spoke out about the events: “We have come from several years in which public stigmatization and violence against journalism, especially in the regions, reached scandalous levels. According to the IAPA’s Chapultepec Index, Colombia has been one of the countries with the greatest deterioration in its press freedom indicators. Between August 2022 and July 2026, there have been more than two thousand attacks against hundreds of journalists, including ten murders, four of these in 2026; on average one journalist threatened every two days.”
And he added: “Freedom of the press and the right to information are not privileges of those who report. They are guarantees of citizens who need diverse voices to understand what is happening and form their opinion. With the threats and attacks on journalists and media, and the consequent intimidation, censorship, self-censorship, the one who loses the most is the entire society.”
