Coordination Behind Deadly Attacks in Colombia Raises Concerns of Renewed Violence

Researchers have confirmed the identification of the San Jose, a Spanish galleon shipwreck submerged in Caribbean waters for over 300 years, holding treasure valued at approximately $16 billion. This discovery, reported by the Telegraph, has ignited a multi-billion-pound legal battle over ownership of the gold, silver, and emeralds aboard the ship. The San Jose sank in 1708 during a conflict with the Royal Navy, transporting riches from Peru to Spain to fund the War of the Spanish Succession. Colombian scholars stated that evidence—including silver coins minted in 1707—reinforces the identity of the wreck, first discovered in 2015. The evidence suggests a unique match to the San Jose, which was lost after an explosion during battle. The ownership of the treasure has become contentious, with Colombia, Spain, and Peru all claiming rights, alongside indigenous communities and descendants of miners. The treasure hunting firm Sea Search Armada also asserts a claim due to a previous discovery attempt in 1981, leading to an ongoing $10 billion lawsuit that complicates the ownership issue.

Colombia has witnessed a surge in violence following a series of coordinated bombings and gun attacks that resulted in the deaths of at least four individuals in the south-western region. According to national police chief Carlos Fernando Triana, 19 separate assaults targeted police stations, municipal buildings, and civilians in and around Cali, the country’s third-largest city. The violence included car and motorcycle bombs, gunfire, and a suspected drone strike. Among the casualties are two police officers and at least two civilians, with an additional 12 people injured. Eyewitnesses in affected areas reported extensive damage, including a destroyed bakery in Corinto, where a resident likened the explosion to an earthquake. Security experts attribute the attacks to a dissident faction of the former Farc guerrilla group known as the Central General Staff, which is believed to be retaliating against military operations targeting its leadership. This wave of violence follows the attempted assassination of presidential candidate Miguel Uribe just days earlier, raising fears among Colombians of a return to the turbulent violence of the 1980s and 1990s.

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale struck central Colombia early on Sunday, June 8, 2025, impacting the capital city, Bogotá. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake originated near Paratebueno, approximately 170 kilometers east of Bogotá. Social media footage showed residents fleeing buildings in their pajamas and gathering in parks. An eyewitness described the tremors as "very strong," highlighting the alarm felt by many. Scenes of dislocation and damage emerged, including a photo of an uplifted pedestrian walkway, illustrating the earthquake's impact on infrastructure. The Bogotá security department reported that emergency services were actively conducting damage assessments and providing assistance to affected residents. Parents were seen trying to soothe frightened children, while others searched for pets that had fled during the chaos. As reported by AFP, the tremors caused considerable disruption, prompting significant concern among the city's populace.