News: According to the Valle del Cauca writer, a group of armed men attempted to enter his home, following reports of intimidation related to his publications. Gardeazábal, in flight like a condor. Photo: COURTESY. JOURNALIST. 05/12/2026 07:44. Updated: 05/12/2026 07:44.
On Monday, May 11th, a serious security incident occurred at the 'El Porce' estate, owned by the renowned writer and journalist Gustavo Álvarez Gardeazábal, located in a rural area of the municipality of Riofrío. According to the writer, a group of armed men with long-range rifles attempted to violently break into the residence, allegedly with the intention of kidnapping him, but the writer, who was at the residence, notified the authorities. Reports of intimidation. Hours before the attack, the author of 'Condors do not bury every day' used his social media to report a series of threats. According to what the writer published on his X account, the intimidation was related to his article number 1350, titled 'Colombia dangerously regresses'. In that publication, Gardeazábal questioned the national security situation and the recent murder of journalist Mateo Pérez Rueda. The writer linked the attack on his property to his journalistic work, stating that his recent reports on "the Chinese-style trial" against communicators from the provinces had caused unrest in powerful sectors. Details of the attempted intrusion. The journalist recounted that, prior to the attempted attack by the armed group, a supposed patrol of the National Police arrived at his estate with the intention of carrying out an inspection. Gardeazábal stated that he was suspicious of the procedure and refused to allow the uniformed officers to enter through the security gate. "I refused to open the door until they showed me the judicial order or the order from the Prosecutor's Office to carry out the threatening action. Of course, they didn't have it," said the writer. According to his testimony, the men were carrying heavy-caliber weapons, which increased his fear of a direct attack on his physical integrity. So far, no official statement has been issued by the Valle del Cauca Departmental Police or the Attorney General's Office that clarifies the identity of the attackers or the veracity of the patrol that initially attempted to enter the property. Gardeazábal, who was unharmed, emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating that, given the nature of the weapons observed, the incident could have had a fatal outcome. Security in the area has been reinforced while investigations are underway to determine those responsible for this incident. Follow all the information about Colombia on Facebook and Twitter, or in our weekly newsletter.
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