Colombia: Armed rebel group member behind terror attack

By Lokman Ilhan

BOGOTA (AA) – The terrorist, who killed dozens of policemen in an attack in Colombia, is a member of an armed rebel left-wing organization in the country, officials said Friday.

The latest information on Thursday's terror attack was shared at a press meeting at the Presidential Palace Casa de Narino, during which it was announced that the terrorist was a member of the National Liberation Army (ELN).

On Thursday, 21 policemen were killed and dozens were injured in one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in recent years which targeted General Santander Police Academy in the capital Bogota.

Colombia’s Defense Minister Guillermo Botero supported the information with images and said: “The perpetrator of the attack is ‘El Mocho’ or ‘Kiko’ codenamed Jose Aldemar Rojas Rodriguez.”

He added Rodriguez who joined the ELN in 1994 was the bomber of the group.

Following the attack, the country’s President Ivan Duque called it an "insane terrorist act" and declared three days of national mourning.

Turkey on Friday condemned the attack.