Three killed in blast at upscale Bogota mall

Bogota : Three people including a young Frenchwoman were killed and nine others wounded Saturday when an explosion rocked an upscale Bogota mall, authorities said, as the country's only active guerrilla group condemned the incident.

One Frenchwoman, 23, died in the attack, according to the city's mayor. Two Colombians "died as a result of the injuries suffered," the Clinic of the Country said in a statement.

Another 48-year-old Frenchwoman was among the injured, according to the clinic.

Bogota Mayor Enrique Penalosa said authorities could not confirm "which group could be responsible" for the blast, but said it was "clearly a cowardly terrorist attack."

The Frenchwoman who died had spent six months working in a school in a poor neighborhood, Penalosa said.

French ambassador to Colombia Gautier Mignot confirmed the death of the 23-year-old and told a Bogota radio station that "the young woman was apparently in the company of her mother."

President Juan Manuel Santos condemned the attack on Twitter. He later arrived at the scene and said there were "no clear indications" who was behind the explosion, but emphasized that those responsible would be captured and held accountable.

National Police chief General Jorge Nieto told reporters that "an artifact" was placed "behind one of the toilets in the women's bathroom." 

"We have set up a research team to carry out all preliminary investigations," he said. "We are taking preventative measures."