2003 El Nogal Club bombing
Encyclopedia
The 2003 El Nogal Club bombing was a terrorist attack that occurred in Bogotá
, Colombia
. On February 7, 2003, a car containing 200 kg of explosives that was parked in a garage on the third floor of the multi-story El Nogal club exploded, killing 36 people and wounding more than 200. There were approximately 600 people in the building at the time of the explosion. The attack was the worst in Colombia for more than a decade.
No group publicly claimed responsibility for the bombing. The United Nations
adopted Security Council Resolution 1465
on February 13, 2003 condemning the attack.
Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos
blamed the guerrilla group FARC, saying that there was "not the slightest doubt" that they were responsible and that the government had enough evidence of its involvement. Colombian authorities and investigators, with the aid of ATF
members from the U.S., inspected the scene and the remains of the car bomb. Colombian prosecutors linked FARC to the bombing through the participation of, among others, John Freddy Arellan, a squash
instructor who died in the bombing. According to the government, Arellan had recently acquired membership in the club and drove the car containing the explosives, a vehicle which had been bought in late 2002 using false documents, into the parking area. The government claimed Arrellan would have been employed by FARC's "Javier Paz", not knowing that the bomb would be detonated with him and his uncle still inside the club.
On March 10, 2003, FARC denied any responsibility in the attack and described it as "state terrorism
", claiming that the government of Colombia
planted the bomb in order to unite the country against them.
In March 2008, Colombian authorities released documents said to be found in a computer belonging to the slain FARC commander "Raúl Reyes
", including a February 13, 2003 message in which "Reyes" called the attack a "formidable act" and mentioned the "political convenience of denying responsibilities".
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. On February 7, 2003, a car containing 200 kg of explosives that was parked in a garage on the third floor of the multi-story El Nogal club exploded, killing 36 people and wounding more than 200. There were approximately 600 people in the building at the time of the explosion. The attack was the worst in Colombia for more than a decade.
No group publicly claimed responsibility for the bombing. The United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
adopted Security Council Resolution 1465
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1465
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1465, adopted unanimously on February 13, 2003, after reaffirming the principles of the United Nations Charter and Resolution 1373 , the Council condemned the bomb attack outside the El Nogal Club in Bogotá, Colombia on February 7, 2003.The Security...
on February 13, 2003 condemning the attack.
Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos
Francisco Santos
XeskoFrancisco Santos's primary nom d'art or alter ego.Alan J. BantaThe heteronym Alan J. Banta is described as a civil engineer, born in the year of 1952 in Kakamas, a village located in the Northern Cape, South Africa but living and working in Angola. After independence, in 1975, remained in the...
blamed the guerrilla group FARC, saying that there was "not the slightest doubt" that they were responsible and that the government had enough evidence of its involvement. Colombian authorities and investigators, with the aid of ATF
ATF
- Places :* ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 country code of French Southern and Antarctic Lands* Chachoan Airport , Ambato, Ecuador- Organizations :...
members from the U.S., inspected the scene and the remains of the car bomb. Colombian prosecutors linked FARC to the bombing through the participation of, among others, John Freddy Arellan, a squash
Squash (sport)
Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...
instructor who died in the bombing. According to the government, Arellan had recently acquired membership in the club and drove the car containing the explosives, a vehicle which had been bought in late 2002 using false documents, into the parking area. The government claimed Arrellan would have been employed by FARC's "Javier Paz", not knowing that the bomb would be detonated with him and his uncle still inside the club.
On March 10, 2003, FARC denied any responsibility in the attack and described it as "state terrorism
State terrorism
State terrorism may refer to acts of terrorism conducted by a state against a foreign state or people. It can also refer to acts of violence by a state against its own people.-Definition:...
", claiming that the government of Colombia
Government of Colombia
The government of Colombiais a republic with separation of powers into executive, judicial and legislative branches.Its legislature has a congress,its judiciary has a supreme court, andits executive branch has a president....
planted the bomb in order to unite the country against them.
In March 2008, Colombian authorities released documents said to be found in a computer belonging to the slain FARC commander "Raúl Reyes
Raúl Reyes
Luis Edgar Devia Silva , better known by his nom de guerre Raúl Reyes, was a Secretariat member, spokesperson, and advisor to the Southern Bloc of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-EP...
", including a February 13, 2003 message in which "Reyes" called the attack a "formidable act" and mentioned the "political convenience of denying responsibilities".