Four members of the Colombian armed forces were killed by a landmine Monday afternoon in the southern department of Caquetá. The army said Tuesday that they believe the landmine was set by the FARC.
The men died when the vehicle they were in ran over a landmine while they were on a “administrative movement” dressed in civilian clothing, according to an army press release.
The army said they believe the mine was set by the Teofilo Forero front of the FARC.
Their deaths come a week after Helmer Triana, alias ‘James Patamala’ – a Teofilo Forero commander- was killed in a gunfight with police as they tried to arrest him in the southern jungle province of Caqueta.
Last year 373 members of the armed forces died in combat with illegal armed groups. Since 2002, landmines have left 1,371 dead and 4,822 injured, the majority of those civilians, according to El Espectador.
Colombia holds the record for highest number of deaths from land mines in the world, according to the country’s authorities.
