On the night of July 23, terrifying scenes unfolded in El Plateado when members of a dissident faction of the former FARC guerrilla launched an attack using a drone loaded with explosives. This incident occurred at a synthetic soccer field in the municipality of Argelia, located in the western region of Cauca. Tragically, the attack resulted in the death of a child and left six others injured.
According to military reports, this attack was a retaliation by the Carlos Patiño armed group against the local residents. The community had refused to expel members of the national police who were conducting operations against the insurgents, which had reportedly caused several casualties within the group.
During a cultural event at the sports facility, the drone was deployed around 9:20 PM, and an explosive was detonated. General Federico Mejía, commander of the Cauca Specific Command, confirmed that this assault resulted in six civilian injuries and the death of a minor.
Videos circulating on social media depict the chaos and fear felt at the local health center, where the injured were taken. These recordings highlight the urgent atmosphere following the brutal act orchestrated by the self-proclaimed Central General Staff (EMC, led by alias Iván Mordisco). One particularly distressing video, whose authenticity has not been verified, shows a doctor desperately trying to resuscitate the child who tragically lost his life.
As the video spreads, it captures the frustration and helplessness of medical staff, with a pediatrician lamenting their inability to save the young boy, estimated to be under 10 years old. This footage was shared by William Molina on social media, who identifies as a national youth advisor in Santander.
Molina expressed anguish over increasing violence in Colombia. He stated, “It’s heartbreaking to see our country sinking deeper into insecurity. The recent explosion in Argelia, Cauca, which left several injured and dead, is yet another sign of the brutal violence consuming us. Urgent action is needed from the national government to curb this barbarity in our territories!”
In the harrowing 38 seconds captured by witnesses on their cell phones, anguished screams from the injured can be heard. One person filming can be heard exclaiming, “No! The child has died. Damn it!” This moment echoes images from conflict zones like Gaza, where daily tragedies unfold in hospitals struggling to cope with the aftermath of violence.
It is worth noting that since last October, Israel has conducted military interventions in Gaza following attacks by the Hamas group, which resulted in the deaths of thousands, including many civilians. The President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, has been vocally critical of Israel, sharing distressing images of casualties on his social media, questioning Israel’s actions amid a conflict that has led to substantial civilian suffering and loss of life.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/colombia/2024/07/24/no-es-palestina-sino-el-cauca-revelan-video-del-deceso-de-un-nino-en-el-plateado-tras-atentado-de-la-disidencias/
