Colombia beefs up security for right-wing presidential candidate
The Colombian government has stepped up security for right-wing presidential candidate Federico Gutierrez following threats from paramilitary and drug trafficking groups ahead of elections later this month.
Gutierrez, who is trailing leftist candidate Gustavo Petro in opinion polls ahead of the May 29 vote, received a threatening note from a paramilitary organisation calling itself the Black Eagles, according to his campaign team.
Interior Minister Daniel Palacios said instructions were given to boost Gutierrez's security in response to the threat, which had raised "concern both inside the campaign and in the intelligence agencies."
The note designated those who frequent Gutierrez's party headquarters as "military targets" and threatened that the heads of Gutierrez and his entourage would "roll."
Palacios said there had also been threats from the Gulf Clan, the largest drug trafficking group in Colombia, the world's biggest cocaine producer.
The authorities had already stepped up security for Petro, a former guerrilla who had to call off a public appearance this month after his team received "first-hand information" about an assassination plot by paramilitaries.
In the 20th century, five presidential candidates were assassinated by opponents, drug traffickers or paramilitary groups in Colombia.
