A car bomb and a separate attack on a police helicopter in Colombia have killed at least 13 people, according to authorities. President Gustavo Petro attributed both incidents, which took place on Thursday, to dissidents of the defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, commonly known as FARC.

Petro said on X that eight police officers died in the helicopter attack and noted that the aircraft was transporting personnel to an area in Antioquia, in northern Colombia, to eradicate coca leaf crops, the raw material for cocaine.

Antioquia Gov Andres Julian said on the same social media platform that a drone attacked the helicopter as it flew over coca leaf crops. Colombian Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez said that preliminary information indicates the attack caused a fire in the aircraft. Authorities did not immediately provide details of the conditions of the eight people who were injured in the helicopter attack.