Baby among four killed in bomb attack in western Colombia, official says

A lorry loaded with explosives detonated in Tolima province, western Colombia, on Sunday, killing at least four people, including a two-month-old baby girl, according to a local official. The blast occurred near a military base in the town of Planadas, causing significant damage to nearby buildings, including a hospital. The identity of the perpetrators remains unclear, but recent attacks against security forces by armed criminal groups are believed to be in retaliation for a recent offensive ordered by the new right-wing President, Abelardo de la Espriella.

Governor Adriana Magali Matiz condemned the bombing, calling it a "vile and criminal act" and vowing to reject it with "absolute forcefulness." She emphasized that attacking civilians and endangering soldiers and families is intolerable. President de la Espriella, who ran on a tough-on-crime platform, vowed not to retreat, even by a millimeter, in response to the attack.

He also reaffirmed that criminals will face no leniency or impunity in his administration. Since taking office in August, President de la Espriella has ended peace talks with certain illegal armed groups, opting instead for a hardline approach that includes bombing their camps and expanding the crackdown on all illegal groups. These groups have retaliated by employing new tactics, such as using drones to transport explosives.

President de la Espriella has directed his government to continue targeting legitimate military objectives and intensify special operations, vowing to dismantle the organizations responsible and restore security for Colombians.