By R. Renee Yaworsky
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

MEDELLIN, Colombia—Eight people were killed and nine were injured in a massacre in north Colombia.  The attack happened early Friday morning when gunmen opened fire in a nightclub and then fled on motorbikes.  Among the deceased victims was one American, who was a dual U.S.-Colombian citizen.

Two heavily armed men entered a nightclub called “Barubar” in Envigado, part of Medellin’s metropolitan area, around 2 in the morning.  The men fired indiscriminately toward some tables and then escaped while survivors tended to the victims.  Two police agents who had been patrolling the area and responded to the commotion were injured in the attack.

Machine gun and other high-powered gun shells were discovered at the scene.  Secretary of Antioguia, Andres Julian Rendon, said that these types of weapons are commonly used by drug-related gangs.  None of the victims have been linked to a history of gang association, but police are searching for a man who left the scene and may have been the gunmen’s target.

Oscar Naranjo, Colombian National Police Director, said the attack may have been motivated by a turf war between two local drug kingpins known as Sebastian and Valenciano.  In April, the U.S. offered a $5 million reward for information leading to Valenciano’s capture.  The kingpin allegedly moved over $25 million in drug money from the U.S. to Mexico.

Naranjo announced a 200 million peso ($106,000) reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the nightclub violence.  Authorities plan to increase security around Medellin and combat the local drug trade by creating a special inter-agency group.  Naranjo arrived in the area with a team of 20 criminal investigation experts, 400 extra police officers and 200 members of the elite urban control force called FUCUR.

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe condemned the acts of the hitmen and said, “The criminal phenomena of narcotrafficking continues with a great capacity to inflict damage.”

Deadly drug-related violence has been on the increase recently in Medellin, which is fast becoming one of the most dangerous cities in Colombia.  This year’s first trimester has seen 503 drug-related deaths, which is up 54.8 percent since last year.

Although production has been decreasing, Colombia currently remains the world’s largest cocaine producer.

For more information, please see:

Wire Update-At least 8 killed, 5 injured, including one American, in Colombian nightclub shooting-3 July 2010

Colombia Reports-$100,000 reward for information on Antioquia massacre-2 July 2010

CNN International-American among 8 killed in Colombia bar attack, police say-2 July 2010

AFP-At least seven dead in Colombian discotheque attack-2 July 2010