Car Bomb Hits Police HQ in Cali

A large car bomb has exploded in front of police headquarters in Colombia's south-west city of Cali, the first such attack in a major city for four years.

Officials said the blast, which killed one person and injured more than 30, was most likely the work of Farc, or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. But drug traffickers, paramilitaries or common criminals have not been ruled out as suspects. A $500,000 reward is being offered to catch those responsible.

Tens of thousands of civilians have been killed in Colombia's long-running civil conflict, which involves state forces, rebels and paramilitaries. Both the guerrillas and paramilitaries are heavily involved in the drugs trade.

'Treason'

The car bomb, with an estimated 80kg of explosives, was parked outside a police barracks. A passing taxi driver died in the attack and many of the wounded were police officers. The BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Medellin says the authorities blame the Farc and if true, it shows the guerrillas have returned to the campaign of urban terrorism they abandoned four years ago.

The security policy of President Alvaro Uribe has managed to isolate the rebels from most of the major urban centres - yet the rebels have managed to keep a toehold in Cali.

The timing of the attack raises questions, with the second largest rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), due to sit down this week with government officials to discuss a possible peace deal. The Farc have accused the group of treason and are seeking to win over dissident ELN guerrillas that want to keep fighting - and a high-profile display of strength may be the way to do so, our correspondent says.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/6540217.stm

Published: 2007/04/10 06:35:38 GMT

© BBC MMVII

***ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM BOYCE WALLACE, AMERICAN MISSIONARY TO COLOMBIA:
The blast also impacted Cali Central C P Church some 500 meters away from the Police HQ. Although there was no structural damage to Central Church, windows were blown out, doors were damaged, almost half of the ceiling in the chapel fell and other minor mishaps. The caretakers were asleep at the time and were unhurt. This is the second time that Central Church has been affected by car bombs. The first time was when a nearby hotel was hit a few years ago. In neither case has the church been the object of a terrorist attack.