Army and police spokesperson linked the attack to Estado Mayor Central (EMC)-FARC group, which was formed by former members of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia who broke away and started their own guerrilla force after the group signed a peace deal with the Colombian government in 2016.

However, the Estado Mayor Central group has not taken the responsibility of the attacks and instead accused the Colombian government of not honouring the peace process and going back on it, while giving suggestions to the public to avoid crossfire.

Colombia’s Defence Ministry described the attack as “a desperate reaction by illegal armed groups to the massive operations of the [military and police], which have devastated their illicit structures and economies,” BBC reported.

Cali’s Mayor Alejandro Eder, which is Colombia’s third largest city, said that three explosive devices were detonated on Tuesday. Authorities said the rebels placed the bombs in vehicles that were parked near the police stations. Police stations, municipal buildings and civilian targets were hit in the series of bombings as the South American country’s security crisis deepens.

The serial bombing attack near police stations came a few days after Colombia’s presidential candidate and Senator Miguel Uribe was shot in his head during a campaign rally, and he continues to fight for his life. Uribe, 39, was shot in his head on Saturday in the capital Bogota. The hospital treating the conservative presidential candidate said on Tuesday that he is in a critical condition.-Agencies