Two bodyguards die in attack on senator's security detail in Colombia

Two bodyguards of Senator Jairo Castellanos were killed this Thursday during an armed attack against the caravan in which they were traveling on the Fortul–Tame road, in the department of Arauca, in eastern Colombia. The attack occurred when the security team was heading from Norte de Santander towards Yopal (Casanare), where the congressman was scheduled to meet with his campaign team. The Minister of the Interior, Armando Benedetti, reported that the senator was unharmed, although deeply affected by the death of his bodyguards. Through a video, he explained that the truck was attacked on the highway and confirmed that another vehicle in the caravan, with four people on board, remains missing, which keeps the authorities on alert.

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The president Gustavo Petro expressed his solidarity with Castellanos through a message on the social network X and assured that the Government will provide security reinforcements to protect the life of the legislator and his team. Likewise, he ordered the Ministry of Defense and security agencies to accelerate investigations to find the whereabouts of the missing vehicle and capture those responsible for the attack. Castellanos is currently in campaign to seek re-election in the legislative elections on the next March 8. With a wide political career in Norte de Santander, he has been a councilor, deputy, and mayor of his hometown, Toledo. He arrived at the Congress in 2022 with the endorsement of the party Alianza Social Independiente (ASI) and later participated in the formation of the movement En Marcha, led by former minister Juan Fernando Cristo. The ASI party condemned the attack through a statement in which it rejected all forms of political violence and demanded the immediate clarification of the facts, as well as the prosecution of those responsible and the strengthening of security measures to protect political leaders. Congressmen from various benches joined the expressions of rejection, who agreed to warn about the increase in violence against leaders in the country. This new attack occurs in a context of increasing tension ahead of the legislative and presidential elections. According to the Electoral Observation Mission (MOE), at least 170 municipalities face risks due to violence or fraud, a figure higher than that recorded in 2022. In recent months, several leaders have been targeted in attacks, which has reignited the debate on the security of political actors in Colombia.