The explosion tore through the bus on the Panamerican Highway in Cajibio, Cauca, a region long plagued by armed group activity. Governor Octavio Guzmán confirmed the blast killed seven people, while official updates placed the number of injured at 20. Witnesses described the force of the explosion as so powerful that they were thrown several meters backward. However, casualty figures remain disputed: local authorities reported 14 dead and 38 injured, while the Colombian National Army said 28 were wounded. Governor Guzmán initially stated more than 17 people were injured. The exact death toll and number of injured have not been independently confirmed.
Officials have condemned the attack as a terrorist act. General Hugo López described it as a 'terrorist act' and blamed networks of 'Iván Mordisco' and the Jaime Martínez faction, both FARC dissident groups that rejected the 2016 peace deal. President Gustavo Petro condemned the perpetrators as 'terrorists, fascists, and drug traffickers' and specifically blamed a drug trafficker and FARC dissident leader known by the alias Iván Mordisco. The army has intelligence linking the attacks to the leader of the guerrilla group Estado Mayor Central, though that group has not claimed responsibility.
The bus bombing is part of a broader wave of violence across southwest Colombia. General López reported at least 26 criminal incidents in the past two days affecting only civilians. Previous assaults include a shooting at a police station in Jamundi and an attack on a Civil Aviation radar facility in El Tambo. Two vehicles rigged with explosives were detonated near military units in Cali and Palmira on Friday, causing material damage. A bomb attack on a Cali military base on Friday left two people injured, according to officials, though some reports had initially said no one was hurt. In Cali, Mayor Alejandro Eder said three explosive devices were detonated near police stations. Colombia's national police reported more than 20 'terrorist attacks' on that day, including car bombings, firearm attacks, and explosive devices. At least two police officers were among those killed, police said.
President Gustavo Petro condemned the attack, calling the perpetrators 'terrorists, fascists, and drug traffickers'.
The escalation prompted mobilization of high-ranking officials led by Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez, according to multiple reports. Governor Francisca Toro called for immediate support and reinforcement of security forces. The defense ministry said military forces prevented six attacks and captured two people preparing explosives.
Cauca and Valle del Cauca serve as a critical hub for illicit activities of illegal armed groups vying for control of drug trafficking routes, authorities said. The region's strategic location on the Pacific coast and its mountainous terrain make it ideal for cocaine production and smuggling. The attack may also be linked to the upcoming presidential election on May 31, with major media suggesting it is part of a spate of violent incidents ahead of the vote.
The bus bombing is the latest in a series of violent events in Colombia in 2025. Research from multiple sources indicates that August 2025 saw the 100th killing of a social activist and the 30th killing of a former FARC guerrilla in the peace process. The number of massacres—attacks killing at least three people—increased significantly in 2025. On 1 August 2025, three people were killed in Colombia's 41st documented massacre of 2025 in Cúcuta, Norte de Santander. On 6 August 2025, social activist Ruhal Martínez was killed in Jamundí, Valle del Cauca, and the bodies of three people were found in Consacá, Nariño. On 7 August 2025, social activist Brayan Saa was murdered in Dagua, Valle del Cauca, and four men and one woman were found dead in Santa Bárbara, Antioquia, apparent victims of a local criminal organization. On 10 August 2025, armed assailants killed Blanca Nelly Osorio and her grandson Yefrin Andrés Herrera in Pereira, Risaralda.
Despite official attributions, uncertainty remains over responsibility for the bus bombing. The army has intelligence linking the attacks to the leader of Estado Mayor Central, but that group has not claimed responsibility. The exact death toll and number of injured are still unclear, as is the precise date of the attack—some reports say Saturday, others Tuesday. It is also unknown whether the attacks are directly linked to the upcoming presidential election or are part of ongoing criminal turf wars.