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1h ago

Drone Downs Police Helicopter in Colombia as Car Bomb Kills 5 in Cali

Investigators are examining the same-day strikes, with officials imposing emergency measures.

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Members of the Colombian police inspect the area of a bomb explosion in Cali, Colombia, after five people were killed and dozens were injured by a vehicle bomb
Security forces and forensic team members work next to debris following the explosion of a cargo vehicle near an Aerospace Force base, in one of two attacks attributed to FARC dissident groups, that caused multiple casualties, according to authorities, in Cali, Colombia August 21, 2025. REUTERS/Oswaldo Paez
Members of the security forces and people work next to debris following the explosion of a cargo vehicle near an Aerospace Force base, in one of two attacks attributed to FARC dissident groups, that caused multiple casualties, according to authorities, in Cali, Colombia August 21, 2025. REUTERS/Oswaldo Paez

Overview

  • President Gustavo Petro said eight police officers were killed when a helicopter on a coca-eradication mission in Antioquia was struck by a drone and crashed, with eight others reported injured.
  • A vehicle bomb exploded near Cali’s Marco Fidel Suárez Military Aviation School, leaving at least five dead and about 36 injured, and prompting evacuations of nearby buildings including a school.
  • Cali’s mayor announced a ban on large trucks entering the city and offered a $10,000 reward for information as authorities warned of potential additional threats.
  • Responsibility remains contested: Petro initially pointed to the Gulf Clan before blaming FARC dissidents, and no group has claimed the Cali bombing as police and the Air Force open formal probes.
  • Social media videos verified by outlets show the helicopter engulfed in smoke as it fell, highlighting the use of drones and vehicle-borne explosives in a surge of violence tied to Colombia’s drug economy.