• 14 people were arrested. Four of them traveled from Bogotá to Cali (Valle del Cauca). Apparently, they were going to coordinate the manufacture of explosive devices that were going to be used during today’s protests.
  • Another 18 arrests were carried out in flagrante delicto due to acts of vandalism that occurred today in different parts of the country.

The Office of the Attorney General, in a joint effort with Sijin- Metropolitan Police in Bogotá, arrested 14 alleged members of the so-called clandestine brigades, who would be responsible for infiltrating and sabotaging protests in different cities of the country.

The investigations showed that these people participated in different acts of vandalism and attacks against the public force in Bogotá, such as those that took place on September 9th and 10th, 2020 against police stations known as Immediate Action Command – CAI in Bosa and Villa Luz neighborhoods.

There is also evidence that they were involved in the destruction of a bank on September 21st, 2020, downtown.

Among the arrested people, there are four alleged leaders of different criminal networks:  ‘Raimundo’, who was allegedly in charge of financing and providing logistical support, such as the delivery of gas masks to groups that carried out the violent actions; ‘Topo’, ‘Saex’ and ‘Flaco’, who were allegedly in charge of buying the chemical products, guiding the manufacture of handmade explosive devices, as well as planning and defining the roles during the protests.

These last three men, and another one known as Pablo, were arrested in Cali (Valle del Cauca). They allegedly arrived in that city on April 26 with supplies to manufacture handmade explosives that according to the evidence they were going to be used during today’s mobilizations.

Another person, alias ‘Neco’, was found in Ibagué (Tolima). There is evidence that would directly link him to the burning of the stations in Piamonte and Laureles,  located in Bosa, southwestern part of Bogotá.

A prosecutor appointed to the Special Directorate against Criminal Organizations will bring the 14 people arrested before a supervisory judge and will charge them with aggravated terrorism, aggravated criminal conspiracy, and violence against public servants.

Arrested in flagrante delicto

Due to the acts of vandalism that occurred today in different parts of the country, 18 arrests in flagrante delicto were carried out. These people will be brought before supervisory judges.

“Those who affect citizens and create chaos and anxiety are terrorists. What they have committed today is a crime against life, health, and the citizens’ rights in Colombia”, emphasized the Attorney General, Francisco Barbosa Delgado.

The Office of the Attorney General makes this information public for reasons of general interest.

When we speak, results follow.

The information contained in this press release corresponds to the narration of the objective news provided by the officials in charge of carrying out the criminal investigations within the Office of the Attorney General. By the time this communication is disclosed, the legal status of the people mentioned is still pending to be resolved by the competent judicial authority, always under the presumption of innocence contemplated by Article 29 of the Political Constitution and Article 7 of Law 906 of 2004.