POLICE OFFICER KILLED AND SUSPECTED FARC DISSIDENT NEUTRALIZED IN RURAL TULUÁ ATTACK

An armed attack against police officers in the rural village of La Marina, located in the municipality of Tuluá, Valle del Cauca, Colombia, resulted in the death of one officer, injuries to another, and the death of a suspected attacker. The incident occurred approximately 30 minutes from the urban area of Tuluá, according to reports provided by Caracol Radio.

The events unfolded after police officers responded to an alert regarding an alleged altercation at a commercial establishment in the nightlife district of La Marina. Upon their arrival at the scene, the officers were fired upon by a group of individuals present in the area, prompting an immediate exchange of gunfire.

During the confrontation, a 31-year-old police officer who had served seven years in the institution was fatally struck by bullets. A second officer sustained injuries during the shootout; authorities indicated that his injuries were not life-threatening.

In the course of the response, law enforcement personnel neutralized one of the alleged attackers. Preliminary information provided by authorities identifies the individual as a suspected member of the 57th Front Yair Bermúdez, an armed structure belonging to the disidencies of the former FARC guerrilla organization.

Following the security operation, law enforcement reported the seizure of several items at the scene, including:

• One assault rifle.
• One handgun.
• One motorcycle with a reported history of theft.

Videos circulated on social media platforms showing brief moments of the armed clash. The footage depicts an individual, identified as one of the prospective attackers, fleeing on foot while carrying a rifle and firing back toward the responding officers before falling in the street and continuing his attempt to escape.

Authorities noted that this violent encounter follows another recently reported armed clash in the nearby rural sector of Monteloro, also within the jurisdiction of Tuluá. In that incident, members of the 57th Front Yair Bermúdez reportedly confronted members of the Adán Izquierdo company, both associated with FARC dissident networks. No casualties or injuries were reported in the Monteloro confrontation.