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Colombia govt says Bogota attack foiled

Luis Jaime AcostaAAP
Colombian Defence Minister Diego Molano says former FARC rebel members planned to attack Bogota.
Camera IconColombian Defence Minister Diego Molano says former FARC rebel members planned to attack Bogota. Credit: EPA

Colombian police have confiscated 67kg of explosives from former rebels who planned to carry out an attack in the capital Bogota, the government says.

Defence Minister Diego Molano said the attack was planned by leaders of dissident former members of the demobilised Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) who reject a 2016 peace deal with the government.

"Intelligence detected the plan to bring the explosive pentolite to Bogota to commit a terrorist attack in the city," Molano said during an address shared over social media.

Hernan Dario Velasquez, also known as El Paisa, ordered the attack, he said.

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El Paisa is a member of the so-called Segunda Marquetalia group of former FARC, which is led by Ivan Marquez and whose leaders are hiding in Venezuela, according to security sources.

The dissidents were also planning to commit acts of vandalism and attacks against Colombia's military and police during upcoming protests, Molano said.

Two people were captured during the operation to seize the explosives, one of whom is a former FARC combatant, Colombia's police chief general Jorge Vargas said.

"El Paisa gave criminal instructions from Venezuela to commit attacks in the city of Bogota," Vargas said, reiterating that Colombia's government will offer up to 3 billion pesos ($A1 million) for information leading to the dissident's arrest.

On Wednesday Colombia re-issued three Interpol Red Notices for Marquez's capture and requested his extradition from Venezuela.

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