Alejandría shopping centre rocked 'by huge explosion' as cops lock down Colombian city

A huge explosion has been reported at a in , with the area being forced into lockdown by and terrified crowds seen sprinting away from the scene.

Officers have reportedly activated a major security operation around Alejandría in downtown Cúcuta, where according to local reports, several people have been left injured and are being evacuated via . In dramatic video footage posted to X, chaos erupted at the popular mall after an alleged explosion sent crowds fleeing in terror.

Some locals were seen carrying what appeared to be an injured person off to safety as other shoppers sprinted towards exits in scenes of panic. Another video shows a man being by police outside the Alejandría shopping centre.

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At least two people have been confirmed as injured in the suspected grenade attack, which follows months of similar attacks across Colombia. In March, an explosion rocked an area of the capital, Bogota, after two men on a motorbike tossed an explosive device into a group of people gathered on a street corner, injuring three.

According to local news outlet areacucuta, the Metropolitan Police of Cúcuta confirmed that the swift response of the authorities led to the capture of an alleged perpetrator, who was arrested and led away from the scene.

The outlet added that at least two shoppers had been injured. Posts on social media have also alleged there have been multiple injuries at the shopping centre. One local filming the aftermath said on X/: "#Attention #Urgent A powerful explosion has just occurred minutes ago near the Alejandría shopping center, in the central area of #Cúcuta . Injured people are being reported".

A motive has not yet been investigated and there is no information on arrests or suspects.

In 2017, three women were killed at a shopping centre at the Zona Rosa area of the capital city Bogotá, in what the authorities confirmed was a terrorist attack. Eleven other people were injured in the attack.

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