Colombian Prez Petro was target of possible attack in July: Defence min

Colombian President Gustavo Petro was the target of a possible attack in July, when he took part in a public event in downtown Bogot, Defense Minister Ivn Velsquez said Thursday, without providing evidence or elaborating further.

There was information about that an attack, Velsquez said, but declined to provide additional details when pressed by reporters.

Petro participated in the traditional military parade on July 20 to commemorate the 214th anniversary of Colombia's independence from Spain, after arriving several hours late to the event.

Petro said at the time that his tardiness was due to information that had to be corroborated with the United States embassy, and a lack of coordination among my security detail.

On Wednesday, Gustavo Bolvar, one of Petro's closest allies in his cabinet, insisted to the press that the president arrived late on July 20 because there were security concerns and a warning from the U.S. embassy.

Petro, a former rebel and the first leftist president