Bojayá massacre The Bojayá massacre ( ) was a massacre that occurred on May 2 , 2002 in the Colombian town of Bojayá ( with its urban centre also referred to as Bellavista ) , in Chocó department . FARC guerrillas seized the town in an attempt to take control of the Atrato River region from AUC paramilitaries , in the process killing approximately 119 civilians in an apparently indiscriminate attack with an improvised homemade mortar assembled with gas cylinder s parts ( known in Spanish as " pipeta " or " Cilindro bomba " ) . Background . As previously noted by the Colombian government , " the armed confrontation in the region between the guerrillas and the illegal self - defence forces is very violent due to the economic and strategic interests in play , including , among others : drug trafficking , the inter - oceanic connection , the development of megaproject s like the Panamerican Highway , and the proximity of ports and hydroelectric stations . The region furthermore represents advantages for these groups as a route for the import of arms and supplies from Central America and to provide favourable routes for drug trafficking . " Preceding events . At least 250 paramilitary combatants moved into Bellavista on 21 April 2002 , and remained in the populated area despite protests by local residents . The UNHCHR sent an official communication to the Colombian government on April 23 expressing their concern regarding the presence of the paramilitaries and the possible consequences for the local people . The Ombudsman ' s Office of Colombia also visited the region on April 26 and released an early warning regarding the possible consequences of an armed confrontation in the area . Intense fighting broke out on May 1 in neighboring Vigía del Fuerte municipality ( Antioquia department ) , and spread to Bellavista later in the day . Residents took shelter in the local church , the adjoining parsonage and an Augustinian Missionary residence , with the total number approaching 500 over the course of the night . Details of the attack . According to the official UN investigation report , in the morning of May 2 the AUC paramilitaries had established positions around the church , using the buildings and the cement wall around the church yard for protection . The FARC took up positions to the north ( in Barrio Pueblo Nuevo ) , and began launching gas cylinder bombs ( pipetas ) toward the paramilitary positions , with two landing nearby but the third going through the roof of the church and exploding on the altar . The explosion caused approximately 119 dead and 98 wounded , though the UN was not able to verify exact numbers . A large number of the dead and wounded were children . The UN investigation found the FARC in violation of several principles of international humanitarian law , including an indiscriminate attack causing unnecessary civilian casualties , failure to distinguish between civilian and combatant , failure to take efforts to protect civilians from avoidable harm , and attacks against cultural property . Prohibitions against these acts are found in Common Article 3 of the 1949 Geneva Conventions and Articles 4 , 13 , and 16 of Additional Protocol II . The UN also considered the FARC responsible for the forced displacement generated as a consequence of the attack on the church , placing the act in violation of Article 17 of Protocol II . The UN also found the AUC in violation of various aspects of international humanitarian law , including using civilians as human shields , failing to protect civilians from the effects of their military operations , and for causing massive forced displacement of civilian populations in the region due to their acts , threats and combat operations in the area . Given reports of theft by the AUC of goods , equipment and vehicles belonging to local residents , the UN also found the AUC guilty of pillage ( a violation of Article 17 of Protocol II ) . The UNHCHR also found that the Colombian government failed to act in order to prevent the massive human suffering resulting from the events in Bojaya - suffering that was predicted and of which the government was explicitly warned beforehand . Responsibility of the state . The First Administrative Court of Quibdo , Chocó sentenced the Colombian State to a billion and a half Colombian peso compensation to relatives of two of the dead victims on May 29 , 2008 . It ruled the State was administratively responsible and had neglected to protect its citizens , despite the warnings of the ombudsman .