The mark of a projectile impact is seen on a helicopter that Colombian President Ivan Duque was traveling in, after it suffered an attack during an overflight, according to authorities, in Cucuta, Colombia June 25, 2021. (Colombia Presidency/Handout via REUTERS)
BOGOTA聽 鈥� A helicopter carrying Colombia鈥檚 President Ivan Duque and others was struck by multiple bullets in an attack on Friday, he said in a video message.
The incident took place while the president鈥檚 helicopter was flying through Colombia鈥檚 Catatumbo region toward the city of Cucuta, capital of the country鈥檚 Norte de Santander province, Duque said.
鈥淲hat鈥檚 clear is that this is a cowardly attack where bullet holes can be seen in the presidential aircraft,鈥� Duque said.
As well as Duque, the helicopter was carrying other officials including Defense Minister Diego Molano, Interior Minister Daniel Palacios, and governor of Norte de Santander Silvano Serrano.
No one was injured in the incident, a spokesman for the presidency said.
Security personnel have been given clear instructions to find those behind the attack on the helicopter, the president added.
The troubled Catatumbo region, on Colombia鈥檚 border with Venezuela, is home to extensive coca crops, the chief ingredient of cocaine. It is where guerrillas of the leftist National Liberation Army (ELN) operate, former FARC fighters who reject a 2016 peace deal with the government, along with armed criminal groups involved in drug trafficking.
This month a car bomb was detonated at a military base used by the 30th Army Brigade in Cucuta, injuring Colombian troops and U.S. military advisers.
While Molano said the attack could have been carried out by the ELN, the rebel group said it denied having any role in the bombing.