A new attack against the Public Force was recorded this Friday in the Y de Astilleros sector, in Norte de Santander, where two police officers died and two others were injured after an attack with explosives by the National Liberation Army (ELN).
This is the third attack against security forces in the region in less than a week, increasing tension in an area already marked by the presence of illegal armed groups.
The fatal victims were identified as Chief Mayor Jaime Luis Álvarez Mantilla and Deputy Mayor Carlos Alberto Ramírez Ramírez, who carried out patrol work on the Patio 8 trail, a road that connects the Y de Astilleros district with Sardinata. During the ambush, patrolmen Cristián Andrey Durán Salazar and Plinio Moscate Caro were injured and taken to the municipality of El Zulia, where they receive medical attention.
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The Ministry of Defense condemned the attack and expressed its condolences to the families of the deceased soldiers: “We accompany the families and loved ones of the soldiers in this difficult time. “His sacrifice for our country will not be forgotten,” the entity said in a statement.
In response, the director of the National Police, General William René Salamanca Ramírez, announced the immediate deployment of a special intelligence and criminal investigation team in the area to capture those responsible. In addition, a reward of up to 100 million pesos is offered for information that leads to the whereabouts of the perpetrators of the attack.. “With your help we will find them!” emphasized General Salamanca, who described the situation as “patriotic pain.”
The authorities reinforce surveillance in Norte de Santander, a high-risk region due to the presence of illegal armed groups.
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