Car bomb at Colombia base injures 36

A car bomb explosion at a military base in the Colombian border city of Cucuta has injured 36 people, the defence minister says, casting blame for the attack on leftist rebels.

The explosion took place on Tuesday at a base used by the 30th Army Brigade in the northeastern city near the border with Venezuela.

"We reject and repudiate this vile and terrorist act which sought to attack the soldiers of Colombia," Defence Minister Diego Molano told journalists.

"Thirty-six people were injured. Three of them with a degree of gravity."

Two men drove a white Toyota truck into the base after passing themselves off as officials, he said, adding there were two explosions.

Despite a 2016 peace deal with Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels, Colombia's military continues to battle National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas, crime gangs and former FARC members who reject the accord.

The ELN, FARC dissidents and crime gangs are present in sometimes-restive Norte de Santander province, where the 30th Brigade operates.

Molano said the ELN was suspected to be behind the "vile act". "Also being investigated is the involvement of FARC dissidents," he said.

The injury toll could have been higher but most personnel were in preventive isolation because of coronavirus, a high-ranking official told Reuters.

President Ivan Duque said on Twitter he would travel to Cucuta to meet military leaders and local authorities.