(FLIP/IFEX) – During the night of 15 August 2005, unknown assailants on a motorcycle threw a fragmentation grenade at the offices of “El Informador” newspaper, in the northern coastal city of Santa Marta, department of Magdalena. The grenade landed in one of the building’s balconies, where it exploded. At the time, three journalists and the […]
(FLIP/IFEX) – During the night of 15 August 2005, unknown assailants on a motorcycle threw a fragmentation grenade at the offices of “El Informador” newspaper, in the northern coastal city of Santa Marta, department of Magdalena.
The grenade landed in one of the building’s balconies, where it exploded. At the time, three journalists and the layout designer were nearby in the editing room, putting the final touches on the next day’s edition. Fortunately, no one was killed in the explosion.
Newspaper manager Paulina Vives told FLIP that damages are estimated at 15 million pesos (approx. US$6,520). She said it was difficult to know what had motivated the attack, as no threats had been received by “El Informador” or any of the newspaper’s journalists.
The Magdalena police chief, Colonel Freddy de Jesús Pacheco Escobar, told the local press that the necessary investigations are being carried out so that those responsible can be identified and the motive can be determined.
FLIP condemns the attack against “El Informador” and denounces this attempt to silence the newspaper. FLIP recalls that attacks against media outlets’ infrastructure are a violation of press freedom and freedom of expression, which are protected under the Constitution and international treaties.
