Annual Report 2011
The state of the world's human rights

16 May 2012

Colombia: Bogotá bomb attack 'reprehensible'

Colombia: Bogotá bomb attack 'reprehensible'
Nobody has yet claimed responsibility for the explosion which killed two people and injured more than 50.

Nobody has yet claimed responsibility for the explosion which killed two people and injured more than 50.

© GUILLERMO LEGARIA/AFP/GettyImages


Whoever was responsible for these attacks should be identified and brought to trial. Any criminal investigation must be impartial and independent, and the results made public.
Source: 
Marcelo Pollack, Colombia researcher at Amnesty International.
Date: 
Wed, 16/05/2012

The perpetrators of a car bomb attack on 15 May, which killed two people and injured more than 50 in the Colombian capital Bogotá, demonstrated a complete and reprehensible disregard for human life and must be brought to justice, Amnesty International said today.

The explosion injured former interior minister Fernando Londoño, and killed his driver and bodyguard, and more than 50 passers-by were also injured.

No group has yet claimed responsibility and the Colombian authorities have thus far refused to blame any organization.

"Whoever was responsible for these attacks should be identified and brought to trial. Any criminal investigation must be impartial and independent, and the results made public," said Marcelo Pollack, Colombia researcher at Amnesty International. 

"Should investigations into yesterday's bombing uncover the responsibility of a party to the armed conflict, this would constitute a serious breach of international humanitarian law, which prohibits direct attacks on civilians and indiscriminate attacks which may result in civilian casualties," said Marcelo Pollack.

Issue

Armed Conflict 
Armed Groups 
Extrajudicial Executions And Other Unlawful Killings 

Country

Colombia 

Region

Americas 

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