Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos Calderón blamed the guerrilla group FARC, saying that there was "not the slightest doubt" that they were responsible and that the government had enough evidence of its involvement.

Colombian authorities and investigators, with the aid of ATF members from the U.S., inspected the scene and the remains of the car bomb.

According to the government, Arellan had recently acquired membership in the club and drove the car containing the explosives, a vehicle which had been bought in late 2002 using false documents, into the parking area.

The government claimed Arrellan would have been employed by FARC's "Javier Paz", not knowing that the bomb would be detonated with him and his uncle still inside the club.

[3][4][5] On 10 March 2003, FARC denied any responsibility in the attack and described it as "state terrorism", claiming that the government of Colombia planted the bomb in order to unite the country against them.