Colombia: Attack leaves two police officers dead at Camilo Daza airport in Cúcuta

On the morning of this Tuesday, two strong explosions were registered at the Camilo Daza airport, in Cucuta (North of Santander).

According to information from the authorities, in the first explosion the person who manipulated the explosive device died, while in the second terrorist attack two police officers died.

As can be seen in videos shared through Twitter, the explosion affected some homes, breaking windows. The operation at the air terminal is suspended.

Due to the serious event, the air operation has been stopped and the surrounding areas are cordoned off.

For its part, the Civil Aeronautics reported that according to the protocols

established, operations at the Camilo Daza airport were suspended while the corresponding authorities determine what happened.

“We will be reporting on the restart of operations according to how events unfold. Travelers who are scheduled to use the airport are recommended to Cucuta maintain constant communication with the airlines,” they said in a statement.

According to Silvano Serrano, governor of Norte de Santander, the first person to die tried to violate the fences that limit the airport’s territory and the explosive device exploded. The second bomb was detonated after it was apparently dropped off by two people at the airport. This was the one that killed two policemen.

Apparently, the second detonation occurred while the uniformed men were sweeping the area to discover if there were more explosives.

Some versions indicated that the attack was directed against the mayor of Cúcuta, Jairo Yáñez, but it was established that the local president was already on a flight Cucuta-Bogotá at the time of the explosions.

For his part, the Defense Minister, Diego Molano, regretted and condemned the events that he classified as terrorists and extended his condolences to the relatives of the police officers who died in the second explosion.

“Condolences to the families of the two heroes of our @PoliciaColombia who lost their lives in a terrorist attack in Cúcuta. We repudiate this insane act. Our Public Force intensifies the fight against organized armed groups. #SinTregua in defense of Colombians,” Molano said on Twitter.