The helicopter in which the president of Colombia, Iván Duque, was traveling, received several gunshot wounds while flying over the outskirts of Cúcuta.
«I want to inform the country that after fulfilling a commitment in Sardinata, in the Colombian Catatumbo and approaching the city of Cúcuta, the presidential helicopter was the victim of an attack,» said Duque.
The president added that “both the aerial device and the aircraft’s capacity prevented something lethal from happening.” Duque spoke moments after landing in Cúcuta, trying to bring tranquility to the population.
🎥 #EnVivo | Declaración del Presidente @IvanDuque desde Cúcuta, Norte de Santander. https://t.co/2SW5AuXfxT
— Presidencia Colombia 🇨🇴 (@infopresidencia) June 25, 2021
Duque assured that both he and the other occupants of the aircraft (Defense Minister Diego Molano; Interior Minister Daniel Palacios and Norte de Santander Governor Silvano Serrano Guerrero) and the crew are safe.
#Atención | Así quedó el helicóptero en el que iba el presidente Iván Duque, tras ser impactado seis veces. El atentado ocurrió en Sardinata, Norte de Santander.
Cobertura especial de @NoticiasCaracol >>> https://t.co/lpZofOD5g7 pic.twitter.com/GEs8liqsAQ
— Noticias Caracol (@NoticiasCaracol) June 25, 2021
The aircraft was traveling through the Catatumbo region, located on the border with Venezuela and in which several armed groups operate.
The UH-60L has threat defense systems, and includes ballistic protection of sensitive areas for projectiles up to 23mm.
Cúcuta remained on security alert because on June 14 there was an attack with a car bomb on a military base that caused 36 injuries.
The authorities have not yet confirmed the authors of the incident, however some sources bet on an alleged responsibility of parasitic groups of the extinct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN), which denied being behind the crime.
