BOGOTÁ, Colombia — Colombian presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay is in critical condition after being shot three times, including twice in the head, during a campaign event in Bogotá on Saturday. The 39-year-old senator was delivering a speech in a public park when gunfire erupted, sending onlookers fleeing in panic. Shocking footage circulating online captures the moment Uribe was struck mid-speech.
Authorities confirmed that a 15-year-old suspect was arrested at the scene, though details surrounding the motive remain unclear. The attack occurred amid rising political tensions in the country ahead of next year’s presidential election.
“Fighting for His Life”
Uribe was swiftly airlifted to Santa Fe Clinic, where he is reportedly undergoing emergency surgery. According to paramedics, he sustained gunshot wounds to the knee and two to the head. His wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, made an emotional appeal to the public: “Miguel is currently fighting for his life. Let us ask God to guide the hands of the doctors who are treating him.” Outside the clinic, dozens of supporters have gathered, holding a vigil and calling for justice.
Political Shockwaves
Uribe’s party, the Centro Democrático (Democratic Center), issued a stern condemnation: “This is not just an attack on a candidate, but on Colombia’s democracy and freedom.” The government of President Gustavo Petro, a leftist political rival, also strongly denounced the attack, calling it: “An act of violence not only against his person, but also against democracy.”
International Condemnation
Reactions have poured in from abroad. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the shooting as a “direct threat to democracy” and called for accountability and protection of political freedoms in Colombia.
A High-Profile Political Figure
Uribe is from a well-known political family. His mother, Diana Turbay, was a respected journalist killed in 1991 during a botched rescue mission after being kidnapped by the Medellín cartel led by Pablo Escobar.
Uribe himself entered politics as part of the Centro Democrático, a conservative party founded by former President Álvaro Uribe (no confirmed direct family relation). He announced his presidential candidacy in October and has been a vocal opposition figure to the Petro administration.
Security and Democracy in Jeopardy
The attack raises grave concerns about the security of political figures and the fragility of democratic institutions in Colombia, where political violence has long marred electoral processes. Investigations are ongoing. The identity and affiliations of the teenage suspect have not been publicly disclosed.
