A car-bomb attack targets southwest Colombia a day after conservative president takes office

CALI, Colombia (AP) — A car bomb exploded Saturday in southwestern Colombia, the army said, a day after conservative political neophyte Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as Colombia’s new president.

The army alleged the attack was carried out by two dissident groups of the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. The groups did not accept the peace agreement that FARC signed a decade ago with the Colombian government.

The explosion took place at a toll plaza on the Pan-American Highway, the main road in the country's southwest. The army said two security guards suffered minor injuries in the attack. One of the guards told authorities that the explosion was caused by a vehicle that had been abandoned by an individual who fled on a motorcycle.

The attack took place on the road connecting the departments of Cauca and Valle del Cauca, whose capital, Cali, hosted Friday’s swearing-in ceremony for de la Espriella. During his inaugural speech, he outlined his security policy and warned illegal groups that “they have two paths: submit to the rule of law or confront the security forces.”

The army on Saturday said on social media that soldiers were securing the area and using trained dogs to search for other explosive devices.

Minister of Transportation Elsa Noguera condemned the attack and said work was underway to restore traffic in the area.

“Colombia will not kneel before violence, nor will it allow the destruction of the infrastructure that connects our regions,” she wrote on social media.

Also on Saturday, de la Espriella announced the transfer of 117 prisoners linked to the previous administration’s peace talks to eight maximum-security prisons. The measure, according to the country’s corrections agency, aims to “regain permanent control of the prisons” and “contain any capacity of criminal organizations” to coordinate illicit activities from within prisons. De la Espriella has rejected the dialogue with armed groups promoted by his predecessor, Gustavo Petro.

With no prior political experience, the 48-year-old de la Espriella, a lawyer and businessperson, narrowly defeated Iván Cepeda, a progressive senator and Petro ally, in a June runoff election in a polarized political climate.

His term begins with a robust opposition led by Petro, who refused to acknowledge his victory and insisted on alleged fraud despite the official declaration from the electoral authority and the positive assessment from international observers.

Molina reported from Quito, Ecuador.

A soldier walks through a toll plaza along the Pan-American Highway damaged in a car bomb explosion that the army blamed on FARC dissident groups in Santander de Quilichao, Colombia, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)

Colombia's President Abelardo de la Espriella reviews a military parade following his inauguration in Cali, Colombia, Friday, Aug. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

Soldiers walk through a toll plaza along the Pan-American Highway damaged in a car bomb explosion that the army blamed on FARC dissident groups in Santander de Quilichao, Colombia, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)

Colombia's President Abelardo de la Espriella receives the ceremonial staff from Senate President Honorio Henriquez during his inauguration in Cali, Colombia, Friday, Aug. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

A soldiers walks through a toll plaza along the Pan-American Highway damaged in a explosion that the army blamed on FARC dissident groups in Santander de Quilichao, Colombia, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)

Colombia's President Abelardo de la Espriella delivers his inaugural address after taking the oath of office in Cali, Colombia, Friday, Aug. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The highlight of the Denver Broncos ' scrimmage Saturday wasn't another sack by Jonah Ellis or pinpoint pass from quarterback Bo Nix. It was a solid kicking performance by safety Brandon Jones.

The seventh-year pro made three of four field goal attempts with starting kicker Wil Lutz in New Orleans along with coach Sean Payton for Drew Brees' Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

“You have to have a contingency. We've seen it happen in other games across the league,” special teams coach Darren Rizzi said.

Jones nailed two kicks straight on from about 35 yards, although the process was slow, then moved to the left hash from about 40 and missed one wide left before making his final kick to the roars of teammates and the 1,200 fans in the stands.

“Yeah, so I didn't kick in high school or college,” Jones said. “I just have some history in playing soccer.”

One day he jokingly told Rizzi if he ever needed an emergency kicker, he was his guy.

“Then he called my bluff and put me to the test one day, I think it was last year,” Jones said. “And I made an extra point and apparently there is a lot of guys on the team that can also kick, but I got the opportunity today and went 3 for 4, so that's not bad.”

Not only did Jones never kick a football until the NFL, but he hardly kicked a soccer ball in high school.

“I played some club soccer. I stopped in high school because I'm like, ‘Let’s be real. I'm a football player,'” Jones said. “But I've always told people, whenever I get done player, I'd like to go through a tryout with an MLS team. I think I need to be humbled. I need them to be like, ‘You’re not that good.' But yeah, once we get there, we'll see.”

Jones said he's made a 50-yarder in practice before.

That was off a contraption that holds the ball in place. On Saturday, punter Jeremy Crawshaw was his holder.

“That caught me off guard. And Will usually holds for me, so everything was new today,” Jones said. “So, I didn't know what to expect.”

Jones hasn't gone so far as to get a special kicking cleat.

“No, no and they were surprised that I spat before practice,” Jones said. “And they were like, ‘You’re going to kick spatted?’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, why not?’"

Spatting up in football means wrapping athletic tape around the ankles and over the top of the cleats to lock the shoe and ankle together for extra stability.

“It was all good, but I will say, when the crowd started chatting my name, I got really nervous and I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m about to shank this,'" Jones said. "But thankfully it went in."

Does he think he'd get butterflies if he had to kick in a game?

“I think it depends on the situation,” Jones said. “If we're winning by a lot, no big deal. Hopefully, I don't think it would ever come down to like a game-time thing where I would need to make it in. If it comes down to that, man, y'all just pray for me.”

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FILE - Denver Broncos safety Brandon Jones (22) defends during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Nov. 30, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams, File)