A helicopter carrying Colombian President, Iván Duque and several other government officials was shot at on Friday, the president announced on Twitter.
The attack comes as he grapples with widespread anti-government protests and clashes between the military and rebel forces.
In addition to Duque, the helicopter was carrying other officials, including defence minister Diego Molano, interior minister Daniel Palacios, and governor of Norte de Santander, Silvano Serrano.
In a Friday video, Duque said his helicopter was attacked near the city of Cúcuta, an area mired by occasional conflict between government forces and rebel groups.
#EnVivo | Declaración del Presidente @IvanDuque desde Cúcuta, Norte de Santander. https://t.co/2SW5AuXfxT
— Presidencia Colombia
(@infopresidencia) June 25, 2021
No one onboard was injured, the government told Reuters and the BBC.
![The mark of a projectile is seen on a helicopter that Colombian President Ivan Duque was travelling in [Colombia Presidency/Handout via Reuters]](https://i1.wp.com/mojidelano.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/1960065E-C3B2-4BB6-94A3-2D8ECF037E81.jpeg?ssl=1)
Photos released by the president’s office showed the tail and the main blade had been hit.
Duque said the aircraft’s “safety features” prevented a “lethal” attack.
Security personnel have been given clear instructions to find those behind the attack on the helicopter, the president added.
He expressed;
Once more we reiterate that as a government [we won’t give up]… in the fight against drug trafficking, terrorism and the organised crime that operate in the country. [They won’t] intimidate us with violence or acts of terror. Our state is strong and Colombia is strong to face these threats.
Colombia has been mired in decades of fighting between the government, left- and right-wing groups and narcotics traffickers.
The government signed a ceasefire with the guerrilla group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) five years ago, but the government has continued to fight some breakaway groups still operating in the country.
Last week, 36 people were injured in a car bombing at a military installation near Cúcuta, an incident Duque blamed on dissidents.
Two months ago, protesters overtook Colombian cities like Bogotá to push back against a set of tax hikes proposed by Duque, leading to deadly clashes with the government, allegations of police abuse and some counter-protests.
The president withdrew the tax proposal, causing demonstrations to come to a halt earlier this month, but protest leaders have promised more action later this year if the government doesn’t meet a set of economic demands.
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