Latest news with #Yondó
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Hero dog has a leg blown off but saves 'hundreds' of people's lives after sniffing out bomb
A brave military dog has been called a hero in Colombia after sniffing out a hidden bomb planted by guerrilla rebels, which detonated during a military operation. Although Sanson ended up saving hundreds of soldiers and civilians, his leg was blown off in the blast. The dramatic incident, which took place in the mountainous region of Antioquia, came just two days after a separate bombing in the same area involving a donkey rigged with explosives. That attack killed one soldier and left two others injured. Sanson was supporting troops during a reconnaissance mission when the device exploded. According to a statement released by the Colombian army on Friday, the explosive had been planted by fighters from the National Liberation Army, known by its Spanish acronym ELN, along a path frequently used by residents in the region. Despite suffering severe injuries in the blast, including a shattered leg, Sanson managed to crawl back to his handler, soldier Carlos Eduardo Beleño, in a moment that authorities described as both heartbreaking and heroic. The Second Division of the National Army said on social media: 'Our #FourLeggedHero lost one of his limbs but saved the lives of 36 soldiers and hundreds of residents of the La Raya hamlet in Yondó #Antioquia, who pass through this area daily.' Sanson underwent emergency surgery and had one of his legs amputated. He is now recovering, with video footage released by the military showing the injured dog being treated at an animal hospital. The army added: 'He will no longer be able to serve, but his legacy will live on in every soldier he bravely protected.' Officials said the bomb, which had been placed on a path used by the local community, was a direct violation of international humanitarian law and had endangered both military personnel and civilians. The ELN, a guerrilla group made up of an estimated 6,000 fighters, has been waging an armed insurgency against the Colombian government for decades. The United States has designated the ELN as a foreign terrorist organisation. Peace talks between the group and the Colombian government were suspended earlier this year after a spate of deadly attacks, including raids near the Venezuelan border that left dozens dead. Sanson's bravery has struck a chord in Colombia, with social media users flooding the army's pages with messages of support and admiration for the injured canine. Earlier this month, a heroic sniffer dog who had rescued nine missing people was killed after eating food laced with nails. That case has sparked a police investigation and widespread public outrage.
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
"Hero" bomb-sniffing dog loses leg in explosion, credited with saving dozens of lives in Colombia
Decades after Pablo Escobar brought hippos to Colombia, country now dealing with dozens of them A military dog is being hailed as a hero in Colombia after detecting a bomb planted by guerrilla fighters that exploded during a military operation, authorities said, adding that the wounded canine's actions saved the lives of dozens of soldiers and civilians. The incident was announced just two days after a bomb strapped to a donkey exploded in the same area, killing one soldier and wounding two others. The anti-explosive canine, named Sanson, was helping troops conduct a reconnaissance operation in Antioquia, a mountainous region in northwest Colombia, when the bomb exploded, the army said Friday in a social media post. Authorities said the bomb had been planted on a "community-used path" by the National Liberation Army, known by its Spanish language acronym ELN. With one of his legs shattered by the blast, Sanson was able to drag himself to his handler, soldier Carlos Eduardo Beleño, authorities said. The anti-explosive canine, named Sanson, lost a leg in the explosion, Colombia's army said. Colombia Army "Our #FourLeggedHero lost one of his limbs but saved the lives of 36 soldiers and hundreds of residents of the La Raya hamlet in Yondó #Antioquia, who pass through this area daily," the Second Division of the National Army said in a separate social media post. Authorities said Sanson is now recovering after surgery, and his leg had to be amputated. A video released by the army shows the dog being treated for his injuries after the explosion and later being examined at an animal hospital. "He will no longer be able to serve, but his legacy will live on in every soldier he bravely protected," the army said. The Colombian military blamed the explosion on ELN, a group of roughly 6,000 fighters that is fighting Colombia's government. Peace talks with the group -- which the U.S. has designated as a foreign terrorist organization -- were suspended in January, when the ELN was blamed for dozens of deaths in raids near the border with Venezuela. Authorities said the attack targeting soldiers violated international humanitarian law and put the "entire civilian population at risk." The anti-explosive canine, named Sanson, lost a leg in the explosion, Colombia's army said. Colombia Army News of the explosion came just days after a bomb attached to a donkey exploded in the same region of Colombia, killing one soldier and wounding two others. ELN was also blamed for that attack. Earlier this month in Italy, a heroic sniffer dog who helped find nine missing people during his career was killed by food laced with nails, sparking national outrage and a police investigation.
