A car bomb exploded near a police station in Los Patios, Norte de Santander, killing one person, wounding several others, and causing material damage. ^[1] Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella criticized on 2026-09-01 the absence of several Norte de Santander mayors from a security council in Cúcutta, calling their absence an offense. ^[2] President Abelardo de la Espriella expressed total fury regarding the absence of various authorities from a security council meeting held on Tuesday in Cúcuta. ^[3] President Abelardo de la Espriella warned that the government will not allow any sectional or local leaders to ally with armed groups and vowed to make them pay for such associations. ^[4] Cúcutta Mayor Jor ge Enrique Acevedo said in a video posted on X that he missed the security council because the meeting had not been confirmed by9 a.m. that day, possibly due to disinformation, and apologized. ^[5] De La Espriella warned at the Cúcutta security council that criminals are winning because they are associated with the government, declared the criminal association over, and threatened that local and sectional mayors who align with 'bandits' will be made to pay. ^[6] President Abelardo de la Espriella stated that the absence of these authorities was an offense to the government and the citizens who were waiting for the meeting. ^[7]