Search Block – Finance Colombia https://www.financecolombia.com Connecting Colombia to the global capital markets, analysts, economists, investors, and executives that matter Tue, 23 Sep 2025 10:29:18 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.financecolombia.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/cropped-Favicon-32x32.png Search Block – Finance Colombia https://www.financecolombia.com 32 32 EPM Power Tower Toppled in Medellín Attack, Mayor Fico Gutierrez Blames FARC Dissidents https://www.financecolombia.com/epm-power-tower-toppled-in-medellin-attack-mayor-fico-gutierrez-blames-farc-dissidents/ Tue, 16 Sep 2025 22:28:28 +0000 https://www.financecolombia.com/?p=36140 An attack using explosives destroyed a high-voltage electrical tower belonging to Empresas Públicas de Medellín (EPM) in the La Asomadera sector of the city on the evening of Wednesday, September 10. Officials have labeled the incident a “terrorist act” and attributed it to the 36th Front of the FARC dissidents, allegedly in retaliation for a recent police operation.

Despite the tower’s collapse, EPM reported that there were no resulting power service interruptions in the city.

In the immediate aftermath, Medellín Mayor Federico “Fico” Gutiérrez stated that police were initially called to the area to investigate the presence of a flag alluding to the FARC’s 36th Front. After detonations were heard, the damage to the EPM tower was confirmed.

The mayor announced that the attack was believed to be a direct response to a successful operation by the National Police of Colombia in the municipality of Campamento, Antioquia, which resulted in the deaths of four members of the dissident group.

“This terrorist act is in response to the blow and takedown that the National Police dealt to this structure today in Campamento,” Gutiérrez stated. “We are going to continue putting a price on all terrorists. They will fall because they will fall. We are offering up to $200 million COP for information on the material and intellectual authors of the attack against the power tower.”

The governor of Antioquia, Andrés Julián Rendón, echoed the mayor’s assessment and announced an extraordinary security council meeting. “This is the front of ‘Calarcá,’ the same criminal with whom Petro insists on negotiating ‘total peace,” Governor Rendón remarked, referencing the national government’s ongoing peace negotiation policies.

EPM technical teams were dispatched to the scene immediately, but were unable to begin repairs. The area first had to be secured by anti-explosives units from the National Army of Colombia and the National Police to ensure no other explosive devices remained.

Security Response and Investigation Developments

Two days after the attack, on Friday, September 12, authorities announced a significant reinforcement of security in Medellín with the arrival of 480 new members of the Public Forces. The contingent, presented at the Bomboná Battalion, includes 350 soldiers from units such as the PM4, Special Forces, and the Rapid Deployment Force, along with 130 specialized police officers from the Search Block, GOES (Special Operations Groups), Gaula (Anti-Extortion and Kidnapping Group), and intelligence and investigation units (Sipol, Sijín, Dijín).

Addressing the newly arrived forces, Mayor Gutiérrez defined their objective clearly. “The best way to protect ourselves and our citizens is by neutralizing the terrorist threat. That is the mission that has been entrusted to you as soldiers and police of the homeland,” he said, adding that the task is to completely dismantle the 36th Front of the FARC dissidents. “Medellín cannot be a den for criminals; we are going to continue fighting.”

The operational plan includes:

  • 24-hour checkpoints on main roads and access points.
  • Joint Army-Police patrols at major intersections.
  • Combined patrols by GOES and Special Forces in peripheral areas.
  • Raids to search for explosives and criminal group members.

Enhanced surveillance of strategic infrastructure using cameras and drones, supplemented by nocturnal air patrols with police and Colombian Air Force helicopters.

Authorities also updated the reward system, offering up to $50 million COP for information that prevents terrorist acts and up to $100 million COP for intelligence leading to the capture of the dissident leader in the department, known as alias ‘Primo Gay’.

Mayor Gutiérrez also reported a breakthrough in the investigation, announcing the capture of alias ‘el Sastre’ or ‘el Pío’ during a raid in the Manrique neighborhood. The individual is believed to be a logistics manager for the 36th Front. During the operation, authorities seized 19 flags identical to the one left at the tower site and communication equipment.

“These radios were not for communication,” Gutiérrez pointed out, “but to activate explosive charges.”

An attack using explosives destroyed a high-voltage electrical tower belonging to EPM. Photo credit: Es tendencia en Colombia/X.

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