Colombian presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay is in critical condition after being shot during a campaign event in the capital, Bogotá.
The 39-year-old senator was delivering a speech in a local park on Saturday when a gunman opened fire, striking him three times — reportedly twice in the head. He was rushed to hospital, where he remains in intensive care.
Footage shared on social media appears to capture the moment of the attack, showing Uribe mid-speech before shots ring out, sending panicked supporters fleeing the scene. Paramedics confirmed the extent of his injuries, including two gunshot wounds to the head, according to AFP.
Police arrested a suspect at the scene, and security remains high in the area as investigations continue.
Uribe’s wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, issued an emotional appeal to the nation. “Miguel is currently fighting for his life. Let us ask God to guide the hands of the doctors who are treating him,” she said.
His political party, Centro Democrático, condemned the assassination attempt, warning that it threatens not just an individual but also the broader foundations of Colombia’s democracy and freedom. “This attack endangers the life of a political leader, democracy and freedom in Colombia,” the party said in a statement.
The left-wing government of President Gustavo Petro also issued a strong condemnation, calling the shooting an “act of violence not only against his person, but also against democracy.”
Uribe, who launched his presidential campaign in October, hails from a well-known political family. His father was a businessman and trade union leader, while his mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was killed in 1991 during a botched rescue operation after being kidnapped by Pablo Escobar’s Medellín cartel.
The attack has sparked widespread outrage and renewed concerns over political violence in Colombia, a country still grappling with the legacy of decades-long conflict and organised crime.
Sources:
- Reuters
- AFP
- Statements from Centro Democrático and the Office of President Gustavo Petro
- Social media footage verified by news agencies
