Farc dissidents under alias Iván Mordisco ordered an armed attack on the Tesalia Police Station in Huila to kill officers. Attackers used explosives and rifle fire, but police repelled the raid and neutralized two dissidents. The incident caused material damage and led to the suspension of local activities.
On Friday night, a group of Farc dissidents led by alias Fernando Gómez from the Ismael Ruiz front arrived in Tesalia's urban center in three trucks and two motorcycles. The raid was ordered by alias Masa, commander of the central block Isaías Pardo, under alias Iván Mordisco. Attackers unleashed intense artillery, including cylinder bombs launched from ramps, mortar grenades adapted to drones, and rifle bursts against the station, where ten police officers, including one woman, were stationed.
“They came with very intense artillery… The purpose was to take lives, injure the police,” explained Juan Carlos Casallas, Huila's Government Secretary. Thanks to the officers' bravery, they repelled the attack, with one explosive breaching the rear of the station but causing no casualties among them. In the response, two dissidents were killed, and their bodies recovered by the remaining attackers.
The criminals attempted to blow up the Banco Agrario ATM, incinerated three vehicles and a motorcycle, and placed explosives on access roads and bridges to delay reinforcements. However, the Ninth Army Brigade and Huila Police deployed personnel, neutralizing the threats with overflights and anti-explosive experts. The dissidents fled toward Paicol, abandoning grenades, tatucos, and other devices, which were defused by the anti-explosives team.
Colonel Carlos Eduardo Téllez Betancourt, Huila Police commander, confirmed the deactivation of the abandoned explosives. Casallas urged the national government to bolster forces in the department: “We will not accept this type of acts… They will not break us.” Tesalia's mayor, Olmer Gustavo Ramos, suspended the Farmer's Day and Christmas Parade for safety, promising to reschedule them.