Colombian police foil attack by former FARC rebels

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BOGOTA, Aug. 6 -- Colombian police arrested two ex-members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) insurgent group as they attempted to set off an explosive device early Tuesday in the southern part of the capital Bogota.

"Through intelligence work, we found out a vehicle with explosives came out of the Bosa district, and then decided to intercept it in Usme, where we also captured alias 'Michel' and alias 'El Abuelo' who were demobilized from the FARC's 26th and 53rd fronts," Metropolitan Police Chief Luis Eduardo Martinez said.

He said the detainees had hidden a 25-kilo charge of ANFO (Ammonium Nitrate-Fuel Oil), which was later disabled by an anti-explosives unit, in a residential complex near a busy bus stop in the southern district of Usme.

Authorities had been following the suspects "who were also recorded by security cameras when they were leaving the explosive charge," Martinez said.

About 5,000 residents in the area of the explosives had been evacuated as officers tried to deactivate the device.

The police chief ruled out initial theories that the foiled attack had targeted someone in particular or the National Army, which will be celebrating its anniversary on Aug. 7.

Martinez said the target was a company that refused to pay extortion money to a network of former FARC members who have been pressuring businesses into paying protection fees.

The two detainees are expected to be charged with terrorist activity, conspiracy and illegal manufacture, trafficking and possession of explosives.

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