36 Wounded in Colombia's Car Bomb Explosions at Military Base
A riot police officer stands guard during an anti-government protest next to the statue of Cristobal Colon on June 09, 2021 in Bogota, Colombia. As negotiations between Duque's administration and the National Strike Committee have been suspended, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights meets both sides to know their positions towards protests and social turmoil. In a report released today, Human Rights Watch denounces "egregious police abuses" during the protests that started on April 28 and call National Government to take urgent measures to protect human rights. Guillermo Legaria/Getty Images

At least 36 people were injured in Colombia after car bomb explosions took place at a military base near the country's border with Venezuela on Tuesday. Authorities are now investigating the incident.

According to the country's defense ministry, the two explosions happened at a base used by the 30th Army Brigade in the northeastern city of Cucuta.

Aljazeera reported that two men drove a white Toyota truck onto the site after posing themselves as officials. Defense Minister Diego Molano said that the Colombian government rejects and repudiates the said vile and terrorist act, which aimed to attack the soldiers of Colombia.

Molano noted that one of the wounded already underwent surgery, while 29 were hospitalized.

A number of U.S. advisors are stationed in Colombia. However, according to a Reuters report, the U.S. military's Southern Command did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The U.S. Embassy in Bogota tweeted on its account that a small group of American military personnel were at the base when the explosion took place. However, they were unharmed. The embassy added that the soldiers were there to do training exercises.

Behind the Car Bomb Explosions in Colombia

Molano said the suspect behind the explosions is Colombia's largest remaining rebel group, the National Liberation Army, the Associated Press reported.

He also noted that members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia could have been involved. The said group signed a peace deal with the government in 2016.

The explosions came after announcements of protests being paused. Protests leaders said they would suspend marches that have been going on for seven weeks.

At least 50 people have already died in the protests in Colombia over poverty and inequality. The demonstrations had started on April 28.

In 2019, a car bomb explosion was set off by ELB at a police academy in Bogota. The incident had killed 21 people and pushed the government to end peace talks with the rebel group.

Colombia Protests

The Colombian government has tried to introduce a new tax reform in response to the COVID pandemic but was met with protests.

Since then, Colombia's President Ivan Duque had withdrawn his tax plans. However, protests continued across the country.

Members of the National Strike Committee said at a news conference that they would suspend marches that have been occurring every week to prevent more deaths at the hands of police.

The protest leaders said they are also suspending the protests to prevent the spread of the pandemic. They noted that the Colombian government has not yet met most of their petitions. So they will change their strategy.

They said they would focus on meeting with civil society organizations to draft legislation that will be introduced to the country's congress in July, NBC News reported. However, they noted that this does not mean that social mobilization will stop in Colombia.

Francisco Maltes, president of Central Union of Workers, said that the mobilization would continue as the causes that led to the demonstrations are still unattended.

WATCH: Car Bomb Attack at Colombian Military Base Wounds 36 - From FRANCE 24 English