Yesid Toro, a crime reporter, says that he faked the threats because he didn't want to lose his state protection, the El Espectador website reports . In September, he went to the press with a flyer which listed his name alongside seven other journalists, and was purportedly signed by the Urabenos drug gang. But last week he admitted it had been all his own work. Now Colombia's National Protection Unit (UNP) says it will pursue criminal and civil proceedings against him for what it describes as an "irresponsible act which affected the lives and peace of mind of the other journalists".