Death toll climbs to 21 in Bogota terrorist attack

The death toll in Thursday's gruesome car bomb explosion at the police academy in Bogota has climbed to 21, police say.

President Ivan Duque declared a three-day national mourning in the wake of the bomb attack at the General Santander National Police Academy just before a graduation ceremony for its cadets was slated.

Police identified the assailant as Jose Aldemar Rojas Rodriguez, according to Anadolu Agency. No group has owned responsibility for the blast.

Police said the driver rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into the compound of the police academy at full speed and refused to stop despite being signalled to do so. The suspect is believed to be among the dead.

Bogota has often been the hotbed of conflict between leftist rebels, right-wing paramilitaries and drug cartels.