At least 18 killed and dozens injured in separate Colombia attacks

At least 18 people were killed and dozens injured in two major attacks in Colombia, intensifying the country’s worst security crisis in decades. A car bomb in Cali killed six and wounded over 60 near a military aviation school, while a drone strike brought down a police helicopter outside Medellín, killing 12 officers. Authorities blamed dissident Farc factions, with Defence Minister Pedro Sánchez attributing the Cali blast to Ivan Mordisco’s cartel and the helicopter attack to the EMC group, the BBC has reported. President Gustavo Petro vowed to strengthen security, as the violence underscores growing threats from rebel and drug‑trafficking groups ahead of next year’s elections.