Colombia Offers Nearly $800,000 Reward In Connection to the Attack to President Ivan Duque's Helicopter
Colombia's government offered a reward in exchange for information, to capture those behind the recent attack of a helicopter carrying President Ivan Duque. The attack on the aircraft happened near the border of Venezuela, on Friday, according to an Al Jazeera Report.
At that time, President Duque was not alone in the aircraft. President Ivan Duque was also on board the aircraft with interior minister Daniel Palacios and Silvano Serrano, the governor of Norte de Santander, and Defense Minister Diego Molano Aponte.
READ NEXT: 5 El Salvador President's Allies Listed Corrupt by the U.S. States Department
Colombia's Government Offers Reward Over Information on Helicopter Attack
The announcement of reward was made by Colombia's defense minister, Diego Molano.
"We offer a reward of up to three million [Colombian Peso] for information that allows access to those responsible for the attack on the president," said Milano. The reward amounts to about $796,000. The announcement of the reward was also published in the official social media account of Colombia's Ministry of Defense.
Despite the reward offered by the Colombian government, to date, BBC reported that it is not yet known who carried the helicopter attack that happened on the border of Venezuela.
It can be remembered that Colombia accused Venezuela of sheltering rebel fighters in the past. However, Venezuela denied the allegations slammed by Colombia. It was also known that the two countries broke off their diplomatic relations after President Ivan Duque took office in 2018.
Colombia President Ivan Duque's Helicopter Attacked
President Ivan Duque and other officials attended an event in Catutumbo region of Colombia. As the helicopter of the Colombian president approached the Cucuta airport, several shots suddenly fired at their aircraft.
A spokesperson for Colombia's president confirmed with Al Jazeera that no one was injured in the incident, but the photos released by the Office of the President showed that the tail and main blade of the helicopter sustained damages.
"It is a cowardly attack, where you can see bullet holes in the presidential aircraft," Duque said in a statement.
Authorities believed that the shot came from rifles, as Colombia's national police chief, general Jorge Vargas confirmed that an AK-47 and a 7.62 caliber rifle were found in the Cucuta neighborhood. The police chief also confirmed that the said firearms bear the mark of Venezuelan armed forces.
BBC noted that the area that the president visited was one of the main regions in the country for growing "coca." Coca is known to be the essential ingredient in cocaine. The area was also known to be the area where fighters of the leftist National Liberation Army and armed criminal groups operate.
Despite the sudden attack on his helicopter, President Ivan Duque noted that as a government, they will not give up "in the fight against drug trafficking, terrorism, and organized crime that operate in the country." The president of Colombia also underscored that "violence or acts of terror" will not intimidate them because their country is strong enough to face such threats.
READ NEXT: Colombia's Finance Minister Quits After Tax Reform Plan Withdrawn
WATCH: Colombian President's Helicopter Struck by Bullets - From Reuters