Jairo Castellanos | Colombia: Attack against senator leaves two bodyguards dead

A shooting attack on Thursday against the senator’s motorcade Jairo Castellanos in which the legislator was not traveling, left two bodyguards dead amid alerts of electoral violence in Colombia authorities reported.

Illegal groups, which strengthen the country and finance themselves with the proceeds of drug trafficking and other illegal activities, try to influence the elections with threats and attacks against candidates.

According to local media, Castellanos had not received any threats.

In the border region of Arauca, the guerrillas of the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the dissidents of the extinct FARC guerrilla.

The leftist president Gustavo Petro which tried to negotiate peace without success with the different illegal groups in the country, has increased violent pressure in recent months with operations against them.