On November 22, 2022, several hooded individuals committed violent and destructive acts at the National University of Colombia, forcing an evacuation of the campus.

The individuals vandalized an ATM and planted explosive devices at various locations on the campus. After one explosive was detonated, the university ordered the campus evacuated. There were no reported injuries. A group called the Anti-Bilderberg Front took responsibility for the action and called its actions an act against “the bank and its oppression.”

Scholars at Risk is concerned about violent and destructive attacks on campus. While students and others on campus have a right to free expression, that right does not include violence and destruction of student facilities. 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)
https://www.elcolombiano.com/antioquia/encapuchados-explotaron-cajero-en-la-universidad-nacional-sede-medellin-y-dejaron-explosivos-en-campus-JJ19329440
https://www.momento24.co/universidad-medellin-por-detonacion-de-explosivos/
https://www.semana.com/nacion/medellin/articulo/atencion-evacuan-universidad-nacional-en-medellin-tras-detonacion-de-explosivos-y-danos-a-cajeros/202235/