Colombian president's helicopter hit by gunfire
President Duque said in a video message that the shooting occurred while the presidential helicopter was flying through the Catatumbo region toward the city of Cucuta
Dan Arkin
| 27/06/2021
https://youtu.be/T03aD_npYro
A helicopter that was transporting Colombian President Ivan Duque and other VIPs was hit by a number of bullets during a flight on Friday. No one was wounded, and the helicopter landed safely.
President Duque said in a video message that the shooting occurred while the presidential helicopter was flying through the Catatumbo region toward the city of Cucuta. "What's clear is that this is a cowardly attack where bullet holes can be seen in the presidential aircraft," the president said. The helicopter was also carrying the defense and interior ministers as well as the governor of Norte de Santander province, who ordered an immediate investigation and location of those who shot at the helicopter.
Reuters reported that the Catatumbo region, which borders Venezuela, has extensive crops of coca, the main ingredient of cocaine, and that guerillas belonging to the "National Liberation Army", made up of former fighters from the FARC opposed to the 2016 reconciliation agreement with the government, are operating in the region.
Several weeks ago, a car bomb exploded at a military base shared by Colombian and U.S. troops.
President Duque said in a video message that the shooting occurred while the presidential helicopter was flying through the Catatumbo region toward the city of Cucuta
https://youtu.be/T03aD_npYro
A helicopter that was transporting Colombian President Ivan Duque and other VIPs was hit by a number of bullets during a flight on Friday. No one was wounded, and the helicopter landed safely.
President Duque said in a video message that the shooting occurred while the presidential helicopter was flying through the Catatumbo region toward the city of Cucuta. "What's clear is that this is a cowardly attack where bullet holes can be seen in the presidential aircraft," the president said. The helicopter was also carrying the defense and interior ministers as well as the governor of Norte de Santander province, who ordered an immediate investigation and location of those who shot at the helicopter.
Reuters reported that the Catatumbo region, which borders Venezuela, has extensive crops of coca, the main ingredient of cocaine, and that guerillas belonging to the "National Liberation Army", made up of former fighters from the FARC opposed to the 2016 reconciliation agreement with the government, are operating in the region.
Several weeks ago, a car bomb exploded at a military base shared by Colombian and U.S. troops.
