Buenos Aires, 22 August 2025 (dpa/MIA) - At least 18 people died and dozens more were injured in two attacks in Colombia on Thursday, with authorities speaking of "narco-terrorism."

At least 12 police officers died and three others were injured after a police helicopter was shot down near the town of Amalfi in the northern department of Antioquia, Governor Andrés Julián said.

A short time later, two explosive devices detonated near an airbase in the city of Cali in the country's south-west. Six people were killed and more than 70 were injured, according to the local health authority.

Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder spoke of a "narco-terrorist attack," as he announced that the military would take control of the city.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro also spoke of acts of terrorism and crimes against humanity carried out by armed groups, as he announced that his government would initiate legal actions to ensure that these criminal groups are prosecuted as terrorists.

Police helicopter attacked by drone

In Antioquia, two helicopters had dropped off police officers in a rural area to destroy coca fields, according to a report by the newspaper El Tiempo.

The helicopters had left the area but returned after being informed officers were under attack. One of the aircraft was then hit by a drone and crashed.

The attack is believed to have been carried out by a splinter group of the former left-wing guerrilla organization FARC.

According to Governor Andrés Julián Rendón, splinter groups of FARC and the Gulf Cartel criminal syndicate are active in the region.

Security forces had previously seized 1.5 tonnes of cocaine belonging to the Gulf Cartel.

Cali attack

Colombia's Air Force said that the Cali attack took place on Thursday afternoon near the Marco Fidel Suárez Air Base with a car bomb.

The local health authority later said six people were killed and 71 were injured, including four in critical condition.

Following the attack in Cali, Eder said the military would take control of the city and that the police would step up checks on access to the city.

"In this hour in which narco-terrorism has returned to our country, we must stand together," he said in a video address.

Petro travelled to Cali to attend a meeting of the Security Council made up of members of the government, security forces and local authorities.

Colombia dominates cocaine production

Colombia is the world's largest producer of cocaine.

According to the United Nations, the country has more than 250,000 hectares of coca crops, around 65% of the world's coca cultivation area.

The extremely lucrative cocaine business is fuelling violence in the South American country, which has a troubled past.

Left-wing rebels, right-wing paramilitaries and the military fought a bloody armed conflict for 52 years.

Some 220,000 people lost their lives and millions were displaced.

The security situation has improved following a peace agreement concluded in 2016 between the government and the largest rebel group at the time, the FARC.

However, parts of the country are still controlled by illegal groups.

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