BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — A mayoral candidate in southern Colombia was found dead in a burned-out vehicle in what authorities said was an attack by dissident leftist rebels operating in the turbulent rural area.

Karina García went missing Sunday while she was out campaigning ahead of next month's election in the town of Suarez. She was found hours later dead inside a burned-out vehicle along with five others including her mother and a candidate running for city council.

Last month, Garcia took to social media to denounce that members of her campaign had been threatened by armed men who ordered them to take down campaign banners.

The government said guerrillas that didn't demobilize as part of the 2016 peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia were behind the attack.