Colombian university blast kills three, injures five

Three people died and five were injured on Tuesday when a group of young people were attempting to make a bomb on the softball court of Atlantico University in the Colombian city of Barranquilla, police said.

The regional police chief, Rafael Parra, told media that the deaths occurred when the young people were manipulating around 20 kg of gunpowder, apparently making bombs for use in student demonstrations.

Col. Alvaro Caro said one person died on the spot and two more died of wounds in hospital.

Last Thursday, a car bomb was detonated in the Nueva Granada Military University in Colombia's capital Bogota, injuring 24 students and army officers.

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe blamed the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia for the deadly blast, and then suspended contacts with the group for negotiations over a planned prisoner swap.

Source: Xinhua