Colombian Presidential Candidate Miguel Uribe Shot in Bogotá Amid Election Campaign Violence

Colombian senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay is currently fighting for his life after being shot three times during a campaign event in Bogotá on Saturday. The 39-year-old senator was addressing supporters in a park when the attack occurred. Local media reported that police quickly apprehended a 15-year-old suspect at the scene.

Videos circulating on social media captured the moment Uribe was shot in the head while delivering his speech, prompting chaos as supporters fled in panic. According to paramedics, he sustained gunshot wounds to the knee and twice to the head. Footage showed individuals desperately trying to support a bloodied Uribe before an ambulance arrived amidst the crowd’s cries.

A medical update from the Santa Fe Foundation hospital indicated that Uribe was in critical condition and required both neurosurgical and peripheral vascular procedures. His wife, communicating via his social media account, shared that he was bravely battling for his life and urged prayers for his recovery. The attack has drawn condemnation from Uribe’s Centro Democrático party, labeling it “an unacceptable act of violence.”

Colombian President Gustavo Petro also condemned the incident and emphasized the need for a thorough investigation to hold accountable those responsible. He affirmed that the government’s priority was to ensure Uribe’s survival. General Carlos Triana, director of Colombia’s National Police Force, announced a reward of up to 3 billion pesos for any additional information related to the incident.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed the condemnation of the attempted assassination, calling it a direct threat to democracy and attributing it to violent rhetoric from high government officials, though he did not provide specific examples. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear. Uribe, a noted critic of President Petro, had just declared his intention to run for president in the upcoming elections.

His family has a tragic history, as his mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was murdered in 1991 during a failed rescue operation involving Pablo Escobar’s cartel.