New Wave of Bombings Rock Bogota as Fugitive Escobar Steps Up Terror

INTERNATIONAL March 1993

Fugitive cocaine baron Pablo Escobar is considered responsible for a wave of car bombings in Colombia's capital, Bogota, including a double bombing February 15 that killed four and injured 117 (Douglas Farah, "Bombs Rip Bogota: Cartel Chief Blamed; Terrorism Wave Hurting Anti-Drug Plan," Washington Post, 2/16/93, A23).

The February bombings bring to five the number of bombs set off in Bogota since January 21, including a January 31 blast that killed 12 children and eight adults. Escobar has also been blamed for the shootings of more than 60 law enforcement officials in his hometown of Medellin.

The Colombian government and international agencies have offered a $7 million reward for information leading to his capture.