At least 14 people were killed when a bomb-rigged bus detonated on Colombia's Pan-American Highway near the Venezuelan border, authorities reported. The blast, which occurred on a route frequently used by travelers and cargo trucks, has been attributed to a dissident faction of the former FARC rebel group.
President Gustavo Petro condemned the attack, calling it a "brutal act of terrorism" and vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice. Officials have not named a specific individual, but intelligence points to a splinter group that rejected the 2016 peace deal.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, where the bus was reduced to a charred wreckage. Witnesses described a powerful explosion that sent smoke billowing across the highway. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue workers search the debris.
Colombia has seen a rise in violence from dissident FARC fighters, who continue to engage in drug trafficking and extortion despite the peace accord. This attack marks one of the deadliest in recent years on a civilian target.