Colombia’s anti-government guerrillas have grown stronger under President Gustavo Petro’s three years in office

An attack on a Colombian National Police helicopter and a suspected car bombing near a military air base left at least 19 people dead Thursday in what Colombian authorities are describing as terrorist acts.

At least 12 police officers died in the attack on a helicopter, authorities was transporting personnel to an area in Antioquia to eradicate coca leaf crops, the raw material for cocaine.