( CNN ) -- At least nine people -- five soldiers , a police officer and three civilians -- died Saturday in what Colombia 's president called a `` terrorist '' attack carried out by a storied rebel group . Military authorities , national police and President Juan Manuel Santos blamed the morning attack in the nation 's Cauca state on the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia , known as the FARC . In addition to those killed , three soldiers , 12 police officers and 23 civilians were injured , according to the president 's website . `` We have to continue to be on the offensive , not to give them a single minute of rest , not give them a single minute of truce so that they do not have the capacity to commit acts like this one , '' Santos said . There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast . The national police website posted audio from police Maj. Gen. Jorge Nieto saying , `` All ( evidence ) indicates that there were cylinders camouflaged by food items inside of a vehicle . '' Nieto added that the attack occurred when residents were preparing for a farmer 's market day in the municipality of Inza . The FARC has been at war with the South American nation 's government since the 1960s , a time marked by periodic bloodshed . Santos was first elected in 2010 on a platform of continuing an offensive against the leftist guerrillas that have been at war with the government for decades , but he instead followed a different path by pushing forward with the peace process starting last year . He announced last month that he 'd seek re-election against , among others , rival Oscar Ivan Zuluaga , who has called for an end to the peace talks and is against giving a political space to the rebels . Santos said during an awards event Thursday in Bogota that Colombia `` is a country decisively seeking peace , and advances in the direction of dialogue with firmness and prudence , without neglecting security for a single second . '' On Saturday , the president condemned what he called a `` cowardly '' act and offered a reward of up to 30 million pesos ( $ 15,500 US ) for any information leading to those responsible . He also insisted that the Colombian government would n't back down in the face of these and an estimated 500 other attacks carried out this year . Said Santos : `` If the FARC believe that these acts will get us to a cease-fire , ... they are wrong , they are completely wrong beginning to end . ''
NEW : President calls the bombing a `` terrorist '' attack , offers 30 million peso award . NEW : `` We have to continue to be on the offensive , '' President Santos says . Explosive cylinders were camouflaged by food inside a vehicle , a police official says . Victims included 5 soldiers , a police officer and three civilians .