List of massacres in Colombia

The following is a list of notable massacres in Colombia. Most documented massacres have been a part of the wider Colombian conflict (1964-present day).

According to the Grupo de Memoria Histórica, there were 2,505 massacres in Colombia between 1973 and 2008.[1] The Colombian government defines a "massacre" as the killing of 4 or more people in the same act.[2]

Name Data Place Dead Injured Notes
Putumayo genocide 1879 – 1912 Putumayo Department 32,000[3] to 40,000+[4][5] unknown Members of the Huitoto, Andoques, Yaguas, Ocaina and Boras groups were hunted and enslaved so they could be used to extract latex.[6] During this time period, several tribes became extinct.[7]
Banana massacre December 6, 1928[8] Ciénaga, Magdalena estimated 47 to 2,000 unknown Massacre of workers of the United Fruit Company by the Colombian Army.
1939 Gachetá massacre January 8, 1939 Gachetá, Cundinamarca 9 17 The details of the event have been controversial, but the official version showed a balance of 9 dead and 17 wounded, all related to the Colombian Conservative Party.
Bogotazo April 9, 1948 Bogotá 600-3,000[9] 450 Massive riots took place in Bogotá, after the assassination of presidential candidate Jorge Eliécer Gaitán.
Palace of Justice siege November 6–7, 1985 Palace of Justice, Bogotá 98 Several Members of the 19th of April Movement take over the Palace of Justice, the home of the Supreme Court of Colombia, in hopes of forcing a trial of President Belisario Betancur. 98 people were killed, including 35 militants, 48 soldiers and 11 of the 25 Supreme Court Justices.
Tacueyó massacre November 1985 and January 1986 Town of Tacueyó, Toribío, Cauca 164[10] unknown The Tacueyó massacre occurred between November 1985 and January 1986 in the township of Tacueyó, where the guerrilla "Comando Ricardo Franco Frente-Sur" was attacked. The massacre was discovered on December 13, 1985, and was carried out by guerrillas Hernando Pizarro Leongómez and Jose Fedor Rey (alias Javier Delgado) alleging that the 164 guerrillas killed in their own group were, according to them, infiltrators or informers of the National Army of Colombia or the CIA.[11]
Pozzetto Massacre December 4, 1986 Bogotá 30 12 Campo Elías Delgado kilis his mother and 28 others in a killing spree before being shot dead by police
Massacre of Trujillo 1988-1994 Trujillo, Valle del Cauca estimated 245 to 342 unknown Some 245 to 342 people, including unionists and suspected guerrilla supporters, were tortured and dismembered by paramilitaries and the Cali Cartel with the complicity of active members of the Colombian military and police.
Uraba massacre March 4, 1988 Urabá Antioquia 20 unknown Murder of banana workers orchestrated by the Colombian Army. [12][13][14]
La Mejor Esquina massacre April 3, 1988 Buenavista, Córdoba 28 0 28 peasants are killed during an attack by the Los Magníficos gang, a paramilitary group[15][16]
Segovia massacre[17] November 11, 1988 Segovia, Antioquia 43[18]-46[19] 50[20]-60+[19] The paramilitary group Muerte a Revolucionarios del Nordeste massacres 43-46 people in the urban area of the municipality of Segovia.[21][19]
La Rochela massacre January 18, 1989 La Rochela, Simacota 12 3 15 judicial officials, who were investigating crimes committed in the area, were rounded up and shot by a group of gunmen sent by Rodriguez Gacha. 12 of the officials were killed, while 3 survived
Avianca Flight 203 bombing November 27, 1989 Cerro Canoas, Soacha 110 0 The Avianca Flight 203 is bombed en route from Bogotá to Cali. Medellín cartel hitman Dandeny Muñoz Mosquera is convicted for the bombing.
DAS Building bombing December 6, 1989 Bogotá 63 600+[22] A truck bomb at the DAS headquarters kills 63 people and injures over a 600. The Medellín Cartel was responsible
Villatina Massacre November 15, 1992 Medellín 9 0 At least eight children and one young adult killed by Colombian National Police
Riofrio massacre October 5, 1993 Riofrío, Valle del Cauca 13 0 In the village of El Bosque, Piedras Portugal, 13 ELN guerrillas died in combat with troops from the Palacé Battalion of the III Brigade. They were surprised while they prepared a handstand.[23][24][25][26][27][28]
Mapiripán Massacre July 15–20, 1997 Mapiripán, Meta Department 30[29]-49[30] 0 Around 30 to 49 people were killed with chainsaws and machetes by the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia in collaboration with units of the Colombian National Army[31]
El Aro Massacre October 22, 1997 Ituango, Antioquia Department 15[32]-17[33] 0 15 to 17 individuals accused of being leftist supporters of FARC were massacred by AUC
San José del Guaviare massacre November 11–12, 1997 San José del Guaviare, Guaviare Department 11 0 A Group of paramilitaries from the Centauros Bloc arrived in the municipality of San José del Guaviare and murdered 11 people.[34]
Barrancabermeja massacre[35] May 16, 1998 Barrancabermeja, Santander Department 32 unknown A group of paramilitaries belonging to the armed group Autodefensas de Santander y el Sur del Cesar, Ausac, assassinated 7 people and kidnapped 25 others in the surroundings of the city of Barrancabermeja, in the region of Santander[36][37][38]
Machuca Massacre October 18, 1998 Machuca, Antioquia 70[39] - 84[40] 30+ Guerillas belonging to the National Liberation Army (ELN) dynamited an oil pipeline which caused a spreading fire to the village. 70-84 people lost their lives, many of them children.
Villanueva Massacre December 8, 1998 Villanueva, La Guajira 11 0 11 people were assassinated by members of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) by orders of Carlos Castaño.
Santo Domingo massacre December 13, 1998 Santo Domingo, Tame, Arauca 17[41] 27[41] A Colombian Air Force (FAC) helicopter murdered seventeen people in the middle of a confrontation with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - People's Army (FARC-EP).[42]
Playón de Orozco massacre January 9, 1999 El Piñón, Magdalena 27[43] 0 Paramilitaries from the North Block of the AUC shot and killed 27 people and dismembered them[44]
1999 San José del Guaviare massacre July 28, 1999 San José del Guaviare, Guaviare Department 4 0 a group of armed men murdered four people on the road leading from Puerto Arturo to El Retiro, in the municipality of San José del Guaviare.[45]
La Gabarra massacre August 21, 1999 La Gabarra, Tibú, Norte de Santander Department estimated 35-43 unknown A massacre was perpetrated by members of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC paramilitary group) against alleged members of FARC, killing 35-43 people.
El Salado Massacre February 16, 2000 El Salado, Bolívar 60[46]-100+[47] unknown Mass murder of residents by United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia.[48]
Reminiscencias dance club shooting June 24, 2000 Bogotá 11 7 Juan de Jesús Lozano Velásquez murders 11 people in the Reminiscencias tavern bar
Macayepo massacre October 14, 2000 Macayepo, Bolívar 15 0 Mass Murder of 15 Peasants By Héroes de los Montes de María, a unit of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC)
Chengue Massacre January 17, 2001 Chengue, Ovejas, Sucre 27 0 27 people are killed with mortars and machetes by AUC[49][50]
Alto Naya massacre April 10 and 13, 2001 Alto Naya, Cauca Department 100 estimated[51] unknown a group of more than 100 paramilitaries from the Calima Block of the AUC led by Everth Veloza, alias 'HH', toured the municipalities and territories surrounding the Naya River, located on the borders of Cauca and Valle del Cauca, transporting in trucks, On the way, they murdered peasants who were identified as collaborators with the guerrilla.[52][53][54]
2002 Apartado massacre April 26, 2002 Apartadó, Antioquia 9 2 Members of the Fifth and Fifty-eighth Fronts of the FARC arrived in the Salsipuedes area in the municipality of Apartadó, Antioquia, entered the Villa Lucía banana plantation, blew up the property, gathered its workers, and after asking them for the site's managers and getting no response, they shot them indiscriminately. Nine people died and two others were injured.[55][56]
Bojayá massacre May 2, 2002 Bojayá, Chocó 119 98 FARC launches a mortar bomb against a church during combat with AUC, killing at least 119 civilians, 48 of whom were children.
2003 El Nogal Club bombing February 7, 2003 Bogotá 36 200+ A car bomb goes off in the garage of the El Nogal club in Bogotá, killing 36 people and injuring 200+
2003 Neiva bombing February 14, 2003 Neiva, Huila 15[57] 66[57] The FARC-EP carry out an attack using a house loaded with explosives in Neiva (Huila) with which they intended to assassinate President Álvaro Uribe . 15 people die, including a prosecutor and the sectional captain of intelligence of the Colombian National Police in Neiva, and 66 are injured.[58]
Bahía Portete massacre April 16, 2004 Bahía Portete, La Guajira 12 1 Murder of 12 members of the Wayuu indigenous community by paramilitary groups of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) Wayuu Counter-Insurgency Bloc
2004 La Gabarra massacre June 15, 2004 La Gabarra, Tibú, Norte de Santander 34 0 A Group of men from the 33rd Front of the FARC-EP arrived at the farm located on the Pico de Águila hill, in the district of La Gabarra, in Tibú, Norte de Santander, and murdered 34 peasants.[59][60][61]
2004 Cunday massacre September 3, 2004 Cunday, Tolima Department 4 0 Paramilitaries from the Tequendama Front of the Centauros Bloc murdered four people in the municipality of Cunday, Tolima[62]
Jamundí massacre February 21–22, 2005 Jamundí 11 0 Massacre of Ten policemen and a civilian by Colombian National Army
San José de Apartadó massacre February 21–22, 2005 San José de Apartadó, Apartadó, Antioquia Department 8 0 Mass murder of five adults and three children by members of the Military of Colombia and United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia
Nariño massacres February 4 and February 11, 2009 Nariño Department 27 0 27 indigenous Awás were massacred in two massacres perpetrated by members of the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
2018 Colombia police stations attacks January 27–28, 2018 Bolívar Department and Atlántico Department 8 48 A series of attacks attributed to the ELN against the National Police in the departments of Atlántico and Bolívar, left a balance of 8 police officers dead and 48 wounded
2019 Bogotá car bombing January 17, 2019 Bogotá 22 68 A car bomb entered a police school compound and detonated after hitting a wall
Bogotá prison riot March 21, 2020 La Modelo prison, Bogotá 23 83 At least 23 prisoners were killed and 83 injured during a riot which erupted in La Modelo prison in Bogotá amid fears over spreading of SARS-CoV-2 through prison walls during the COVID-19 pandemic
Arauca, Cauca and Nariño massacres August 22, 2020 Arauca, Cauca and Nariño 28[63] unknown Three massacres kill 28 people, in Arauca, Cauca, and Nariño[64][65]
Javier Ordóñez protests September 9–10, 2020 Bogotá 14[66] 400+ Protests following the death of Javier Ordóñez, 42, at the hands of police leave 14 dead and over 400 were injured[67]
2022 Arauca clashes January 2, 2022 Arauca Department 23 unknown 23 people were killed in clashes between far-left guerrilla groups in Arauca Department
Tuluá prison riot June 28, 2022 Tuluá, Valle del Cauca Department 52 34 A fire broke out during a riot inside a prison in Tuluá, killing at least 52 people and injuring at least 34
2022 Huila attack September 2, 2022 San Luis, Huila Department 7 1 A police vehicle hit a bomb near the town of Corozal, killing seven police officers and injuring another.
Santander de Quilichao massacre December 22, 2023 Santander de Quilichao, Cauca 5 0 Five people were murdered by armed men in two different locations[68][69][70]

See also

References

  1. ^ Revista Semana: 2.505 masacres
  2. ^ Department of State: Colombia report on Human Rights 2008
  3. ^ Tully, John (2011). The Devil's Milk A Social History of Rubber. Monthly Review Press. p. 86. ISBN 978-1-58367-261-7.
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  6. ^ Hardenburg, Walter (1912). The Putumayo, the Devil's Paradise; Travels in the Peruvian Amazon Region and an Account of the Atrocities Committed Upon the Indians Therein. London: Fisher Unwin. pp. 160, 194, 290. ISBN 1372293019.
  7. ^ Valcárcel, Carlos (1915). El proceso del Putumayo y sus secretos inauditos [The Putumayo process and its unprecedented secrets] (in Spanish). Centro de Estudios Teológicos de la Amazonía. p. 165. ISBN 978-9972-9410-9-2.
  8. ^ (in Spanish) Luis Angel Arango Library: the banana massacre
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  63. ^ colombiareports.com: Colombia ends terrifying week with three massacres in one day
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