- Title: Colombians leave floral tributes amid probe into deadly Bogota blast
- Date: 19th June 2017
- Summary: CLOSE-UP OF CANDLES AND SOFT TOYS LEFT AS PART OF HOMAGE TO BLAST VICTIMS
- Embargoed: 3rd July 2017 16:15
- Keywords: Floral tributes shopping centre blast three dead Andino mall
- Location: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
- City: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
- Country: Colombia
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0026LY329V
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Floral tributes were placed at the Bogota shopping centre on Sunday (June 18) where three women were killed and nine wounded after an explosive device detonated in a restroom as Colombians flocked to buy gifts ahead of Sunday's Father's Day celebrations.
The normally busy Andino mall was eerily quiet as people placed flowers on the main floor of the upscale retail centre, which on Saturday (June 17) afternoon was the scene of chaos and terror as the device exploded inside a toilet stall on the second floor.
President Juan Manuel Santos denounced the "cowardly terrorist act" and offered a reward of 100 million pesos ($34,258 dollars) for information leading to capture of those responsible.
He said investigators are working on three hypotheses but declined to provide any information while the probe is underway. No one has claimed responsibility for the deadly act.
Residents leaving flowers and lighting candles, said they would not let the attack cower them. They had come to express solidarity with the victims.
Police said the device was placed behind a toilet bowl. One of the victims was a 23-year old French woman identified as Julie Huynh who had been volunteering in a poor area of the city. Colombians Ana Maria Gutierrez, 27, and Lady Paola Jaimes Ovalle, 31, also died. A fourth woman remains in intensive care.
Authorities have said there have been threats of attacks in Bogota by the so-called Gulf Clan, a group of former right-wing paramilitary fighters who traffic drugs. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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