On September 19, 2022, five hooded individuals entered a building on the campus of Antioquia University in Medellin, where they detonated homemade explosive devices, causing damage and forcing an evacuation of the university.
The individuals entered the Education and Arts Faculties, where they reportedly insulted staff, criticizing recent, well publicized complaints about sexual harassment and abuse on campus. They then set off homemade small explosives, leading the university to suspend activities for one day. The explosions caused property damage but no injuries. A group calling itself Acción Clandestina Policarpa Salavarrieta reportedly took responsibility for the action.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about violent and destructive attacks on campus, targeting the nonviolent expression of ideas. In addition to the harm to university facilities, such actions undermine academic freedom and democratic society generally.
Sources:
*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED)