A strong explosion caused an alert in the south of the capital of Huila, after people on motorcycles attacked the facilities of a Distoyota workshop, located in the Industrial Zone. A UN mission vehicle was left with its windows broken.
The escalation of intimidation in Neiva continues without respite. In less than 24 hours, a new terrorist event was repeated, this time, in a workshop of the renowned company Distoyota, located on Carrera 5 Sur with Calle 10 in the Industrial Zone in the Seis commune of Neiva.
The responsible
According to the first investigations, two men aboard a motorcycle arrived at the establishment last night and threw what appeared to be an explosive device through the middle of the bars into its interior, which detonated immediately.
The incident caused panic in the surrounding sectors, since the sound wave spread quickly in the south of Neiva. After what happened, the Police units reacted by quickly arriving at the site.
There they saw extensive damage from the explosion, including an affected United Nations (UN) vehicle.
It was not addressed to the UN
In a statement, the Police stated, “at approximately 8:50 p.m., the launch of an explosive device, apparently a grenade type, was reported through line 123 at a business establishment located on the street. 5 South with 10th Street in the south of the city, without affecting the physical integrity of any person. However, there is some material damage to a vehicle that was located inside the place. It is important to highlight that its damage was not the objective.”
Regarding those responsible for the criminal action, it was learned that they fled in an unknown direction after achieving their goal.
It was for extortion
In this regard, Colonel Alexander Castillo Marín, commander of the Neiva Metropolitan Police, indicated, “this is an issue that has to do with the extortion of which businessmen throughout the department have been victims and this time, it materializes in this Vehicle workshop. “At this moment we are developing the reaction that corresponds with the National Police, the National Army and the intelligence agencies.”
In addition, he added that “the damage to the premises has to do with the floor, and the damage to the United Nations vehicle, in which a glass exploded. It should be noted that the act was not directed at the UN, but against the premises, the damage was collateral due to the activation of the explosive.”
This event, which occurred shortly after the frustrated intimidation attempt in Infihuila, could be orchestrated by the Central General Staff of the FARC dissidents, which is the structure that is present in the department and particularly in the metropolitan area of Neiva.
Terrorist escalation
With last night’s action, the region already has 8 cases related to explosive elements: 5 in Neiva, one in Algeciras, one in Campoalegre and one in Garzón.
Currently, all the institutional capabilities of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence are articulated, which will allow the collection of evidentiary material that leads to determining with certainty how these events occurred, and likewise; find the identification, individualization and capture of those responsible.
Colonel Castillo finally invites citizens to provide information that leads to the clarification of this event, going to the SIJIN facilities or contacting the Intelligence Section, where their information will be managed with absolute confidentiality.
