BOGOTÁ, Colombia — Colombian senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay is in critical condition after being shot three times — including twice in the head — during a campaign rally in Bogotá on Saturday.
The 39-year-old right-wing politician was addressing supporters in a public park when he was attacked. Footage from the rally, shared online, captured the moment of the shooting and the ensuing chaos as attendees fled in panic.
Paramedics confirmed Uribe was shot in the head, knee, and shoulder, and was airlifted to a nearby hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. Supporters have since gathered outside the facility, holding vigils and offering prayers.
His wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, called on the nation to pray for her husband’s recovery.
“Miguel is currently fighting for his life. Let us ask God to guide the hands of the doctors,” she said.
Teen Suspect Arrested at Scene
Authorities arrested a 15-year-old suspect, who was found carrying a 9mm Glock-type firearm, according to the attorney general’s office. The teen was shot in the leg during the police pursuit. His motive remains unknown, and an investigation is ongoing.
National and International Condemnation
The attack has sparked widespread condemnation across Colombia’s political spectrum and beyond.
Uribe’s party, Centro Democrático, called the shooting a “threat to democracy and freedom in Colombia.”
President Gustavo Petro, a left-wing leader often at odds with Uribe’s politics, delivered a video address urging unity:
“There are political differences, but they are only political. What matters most today is ensuring Dr. Miguel Uribe stays alive.”
Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez offered a 3 billion peso reward (approx. US$730,000) for information about those possibly behind the attack, calling it a “vile act of political violence.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also weighed in, condemning the attack as a “direct threat to democracy.” Without citing specific examples, he blamed the incident on “violent leftist rhetoric” in Colombia.
A Politician With a Storied Legacy
Uribe, a vocal critic of the Petro administration, recently announced his candidacy for the 2026 presidential election. He has served as a senator since 2022 and is part of a prominent political lineage.
His mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was killed in a 1991 rescue attempt after being kidnapped by Pablo Escobar’s Medellín cartel. His father, Miguel Uribe Senior, was a businessman and union leader.
The shooting has sent shockwaves through a country still grappling with political polarization and rising violence. Officials have vowed to protect the integrity of Colombia’s democratic process as the nation awaits updates on Uribe’s condition.