The Americas

Bomb explodes near Colombia bull ring, injuries reported

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Police and investigators inspect the site where a homemade bomb exploded near the Santamaria bull ring in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017. The artefact was detonated just a few hours before a scheduled bullfight, killing a police officer and injuring several dozen bystanders. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan) (The Associated Press)

Police and investigators inspect the site where a homemade bomb exploded near the Santamaria bull ring in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017. The artefact was detonated just a few hours before a scheduled bullfight, killing a police officer and injuring several dozen bystanders. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan) (The Associated Press)

CORRECTS TO TWO DOZEN POLICE OFFICERS INJURED AND NO DEATHS - Police and investigators inspect the site where a homemade bomb exploded near the Santamaria bull ring in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017. The artefact was detonated just a few hours before a scheduled bullfight, as police in riot gear were congregating ahead of a demonstration by animal rights activists. An official police statement said that 26 people suffered shrapnel and blast injuries, all but two of them officers. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan) (The Associated Press)

A homemade bomb has exploded near Bogota's bull ring where police and animal rights activists have clashed in recent weeks.

Media reports said as many as 20 people had to be evacuated to local hospitals with injuries although authorities had yet to provide an official count.

The explosion a few hours before Sunday's scheduled bullfight shattered glass windows in nearby apartment buildings.

Police last month fired tear gas and made scores of arrests to control mostly youth demonstrators protesting the return of bullfighting to Colombia's capital for the first time in four years.