Newsletters
Colombian presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay was shot at a campaign event in Bogota on Saturday and remains in critical condition, with authorities arresting a 15-year-old suspect.
The 39-year-old senator from the opposition conservative Democratic Center party was shot from behind while hosting a campaign event in a public park in the Fontibon neighborhood, according to his party.
President Gustavo Petro condemned the attack and ordered a full investigation in a live televised speech.
"No resource or time should be spared, not a single peso and not a single moment of energy, to dedicate it exclusively to finding the mastermind behind the murder," Petro said.
"Whatever his political thoughts and positions, he is first and foremost a person, a human being, and therefore has the absolute right to live," Petro added.
Uribe was reportedly approached from behind by a lone assailant who shot him in the head. Witnesses reported the assailant fired six shots, with two striking the candidate.
Fundación Santa Fe hospital issued a statement Saturday night confirming Uribe's condition: "We have received Mr. Miguel Uribe Turbay at our Emergency Department. He was admitted in critical condition and is receiving priority care from our team of specialists.
He is currently undergoing neurosurgical and peripheral vascular procedures."
Videos circulating on social media showed Uribe with his face and back covered in blood as bodyguards moved him into a vehicle for transport to the hospital.
Maria Claudia Tarazona, Uribe's wife, stated on his official X account, "I am Maria Claudia Tarazona, Miguel's wife. Miguel is currently fighting for his life. Let us ask God to guide the hands of the doctors who are treating him. I ask everyone to join us in a chain of prayer for Miguel's life. I put my faith in God."
Bogota Mayor Carlos Fernando Galan confirmed on X that the alleged shooter had been captured. The Attorney General's Office identified the suspect as a 15-year-old minor carrying a 9-millimeter Glock pistol.
Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez confirmed the arrest and stated authorities are investigating whether additional people were involved.
"The investigation continues unabated, and we will get to the bottom of it. There will be no room for impunity," Sanchez posted on X.
Petro said in his Saturday night speech that the person arrested was a minor and that the investigation would focus on finding who ordered the attack.
"For now, there is nothing more than a hypothesis," Petro said, adding that failures in security protocols would also be looked into.
The attack drew condemnation from political figures across Latin America, including the presidents of Chile, Ecuador, and Mexico.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio blamed "violent leftist rhetoric" for the attack against the Democratic Center party member in a post on X.
"The US condemns in the strongest possible terms the attempted assassination of Uribe," Rubio said, urging President Petro to "dial back the inflammatory rhetoric and protect Colombian officials."
Uribe, who declared his intention to seek his party's nomination for the 2026 presidential election, is not related to former President Alvaro Uribe, who founded the Democratic Center party.
Uribe comes from a prominent Colombian family. His mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was kidnapped in 1990 by an armed group under Pablo Escobar's command and killed during a rescue operation in 1991.
The Democratic Center party issued a statement calling the attack "an unacceptable act of violence" and said it "energetically rejects this attack that not only endangers the life of a political leader but also threatens democracy and freedom in Colombia."
Colombia's government offered a reward of approximately $730,000 for information leading to the capture of those responsible for the attack.
1 min read
