a security camera captured the exact moment in which strangers they launched an explosive device against a motorcycle National Police in Popayáncapital of the department of Cauca, leaving two uniformed officers injured the morning of this Wednesday October 7.
The video, which quickly circulated on social networks, shows the detonation as the agents pass by and the seconds of confusion that followed the explosion.
🚨 Explosive attack against a Police patrol in eastern Popayán. The attack occurred on the morning of this Wednesday, October 7, when the patrol was moving through commune 4, near the women’s prison. Preliminarily, injured police and civilians are reported. The injured were taken to the San José Hospital, while the area remains cordoned off and the authorities carry out investigations to establish who would be behind the attack. ⚠️ The event generates concern among the inhabitants of Popayán and adds to another operation registered hours before in Santander de Quilichao, where 400 kilograms of explosives that were transported in a truck bound for Cali were deactivated. #Popayán #Cauca #Attack #Police
— EL TIEMPO (@ELTIEMPO) October 7, 2026
READ ALSO
How did the attack occur?
According to the preliminary information provided by the authorities, the incident It registered around 10:00 in the morning in the vicinity of Alfonso López neighborhoodin the Commune 4 from the city, near the Popayán women’s prison.
The affected patrol was carrying out registration and control tasks in the sector at that time when The attackers activated the device in their path, which they had left on the side of the road.
Two uniformed officers were injured and taken to medical centers. Photo:Particular
The blast wave not only He injured the two police officersbut also caused damage to homes and premises nearby commercial areas, and left, according to some reports, three civilians with minor injuries.
Several neighbors came out of their houses and businesses to assist those in uniform while institutional reinforcements arrived.
The Secretary of the Government of Popayán, Reinel Polaníaconfirmed that the two police officers They were transferred to healthcare centers of the city and that, despite the seriousness of the attack, they are out of danger.
READ ALSO
To date, the authorities They have not specified the type of explosive employed in the attack nor have they officially attributed responsibility to a specific armed structure.
Reward for those responsible
Hours after the attack, the Popayan Mayor’s Officein coordination with the Metropolitan Police, offered a reward of 20 million of pesos for whoever delivers information that allows the perpetrators to be identified and captured materials and intellectuals of the attack.
Polanía explained that the measure seeks to encourage citizens to collaborate with the investigations underway, while the security agencies carry out the proceedings to clarify the facts.
Exact moment of the explosion captured by security cameras. Photo:Social networks
Local authorities indicated that expects to deliver a more detailed official balance in the next few hours about the status of the injured and progress in identifying those responsible for the attack.
Meanwhile, the Popayán Metropolitan Police maintains active protocols of security in the Commune 4 and in other sectors of the city considered higher risk, given the possibility of new violent acts against its units deployed in the territory.
READ ALSO
Wave of violence in Cauca
He attack in Popayán was recorded one day after, in the municipality of Santander de Quilichao, uniformed Army and Police managed to deactivate 400 kilograms of explosives that They were camouflaged in a truck that was destined CaliCauca Valley.
The truck that fell during an operation in northern Cauca. He carried 400 kilos of explosives. Photo:President Abelardo De La Espriella
However, this is not the first attack of this type recorded in the Cauca capital in recent weeks. In last september, seven police officers were injured in an attack with explosives and shots against a checkpoint in the city, a fact that adds to a series of attacks against the Public Force in the region.
READ ALSO
The department of Cauca has been the recurring scene of this type of attacks attributed to FARC dissidentsstructures that in the region have resorted to the use of loaded drones with explosives, the installation of devices on the roads and ambushes against police and military patrols as part of their strategy of armed confrontation against the State.
María Alejandra Mesa Munévar
LATEST NEWS EDITORIAL
