TRIPwire, 20 September 2017, 0830

On 17 September 2017, forces from the Colombian National Army (CNA) responded to reports of a package at the front door of a professor’s residence in San Jose del Palmar. According to officials, witnesses observed a man place a black bag that contained a box with a cat inside at the front door of the professor’s residence. Upon further investigation of the package, bomb squad technicians discovered a charge of dynamite with a timer underneath the animal. Technicians safely disposed of the device. Authorities believed a support network of the National Liberation Army (ELN) carried out the “assassination attempt” of the professor. The professor previously received death threats. The ELN continues assassination attempts and kidnappings, despite ongoing peace talks with the Colombian government.