Colombian National Police Helicopter Attacked, Killing Eight Officers in Antioquia; Suspected Involvement of Gulf Clan or FARC Dissidents

A Colombian National Police helicopter was attacked on Thursday, resulting in at least eight fatalities and multiple injuries, as confirmed by President Gustavo Petro. The exact perpetrators of this attack in the Antioquia department remain unidentified.

In his recent statements, Petro has linked the incident to the 36th Front of the Estado Mayor Central (EMC), breakaway faction from the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). However, earlier suspicions pointed towards the involvement of the influential criminal syndicate Gulf Clan, given that the attack followed the seizure of approximately 1.5 tons of cocaine in Urabá, Antioquia.

President Petro posted on his X account, “Unfortunately, we have eight police officers killed and eight injured in a helicopter mission intended to transport personnel for coca leaf crop eradication in Amalfi.”

Andrés Julián Rendón, the Governor of Antioquia, stated that the helicopter was providing support for manual illicit crop elimination when it was allegedly targeted by a drone. According to Rendón, two uniformed officers sustained injuries.

Rendón shared a video which appears to depict the helicopter crashing into a hill. He has emphasized that both the Gulf Clan and FARC dissidents operate in the region.

This story is still developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.