6 dead in attack on helicopter carrying cash in Colombia

BOGOTA: Four police officers and two civilians were killed Tuesday when a helicopter delivering money to a bank was attacked as it landed in southern Colombia, officials said.

The helicopter took gunfire when it landed on a football field in the city of Caloto, according to Juan Jaramillo, a local government rights ombudsman.

Four officers aboard the helicopter were killed, as were two civilians, including a woman who was passing by, Jaramillo said.

The bandits fled with an undisclosed amount of money, which was flown in to be delivered to the Banco Agrario in Caloto.

No one has claimed responsibility but the trail points to the leftist FARC guerrillas.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) is active across half of the country, particularly in this region where clashes between the army and guerrillas are common.

The Marxist FARC has been at war with the Colombian government since 1964. (AFP)