Cúcuta mayor Jorge Enrique Acevedo said on 2026-08-31 that the car bomb attack in Los Patios may be related to military operations by public forces against criminal structures including the ELN. ^[1] On 2026-08-31 at approximately 11:15 pm, a vehicle loaded with explosives detonated near the police station in Los Patios, Norte de Santander, Colombia. ^[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] Acevedo said that signing more than 40 extraditions in 20 days and recent attacks are a 'natural response' from criminals. ^[5] The explosion caused a fire at the police station, damaged motorcycles, commercial establishments and homes, and left the area without power. ^[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] The meeting was organized to address a car bomb attack on the police station in Los Patios, but President Abelardo de la Espriella and his security team left abruptly without making scheduled statements. ^[8]