WEBDESK: Colombian senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe was critically injured after being shot during a campaign event in Bogotá on Saturday. The incident took place in the Fontibón neighborhood, where Uribe was meeting with voters ahead of the 2026 presidential election.
The 39-year-old senator, who was shot during a campaign event as part of his run for the presidency in 2026, is a member of the opposition conservative Democratic Center party founded by former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe.
According to eyewitnesses, the attack came suddenly from behind. Miguel Uribe was reportedly shot in the head and possibly the leg. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital where he underwent emergency neurosurgery. His wife confirmed that he is in critical condition but fighting for his life.
Colombia’s Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez said a suspect had been arrested in the shooting. Authorities were investigating whether others were involved. Sanchez said he had visited the hospital where Uribe was being treated.
The suspect, a 15-year-old boy, was caught on the spot and taken into police custody. Authorities have not yet revealed a motive but said an investigation is underway. A reward of 3 billion Colombian pesos (about $730,000) has been offered for any additional information related to the incident.
Miguel Uribe, a member of the conservative Centro Democrático party, has been a strong critic of current President Gustavo Petro. His campaign has focused on strengthening security, fighting corruption, and supporting free-market policies. He is also the grandson of former President Julio César Turbay Ayala and the son of journalist Diana Turbay, who was tragically killed during a kidnapping in 1991.
United States statement on Miguel Uribe assassination attempt
President Petro and several national and international leaders condemned the attack. Bogotá’s mayor and Colombia’s defense minister have also promised increased security for all political candidates in the lead-up to the 2026 elections.
The United States’ Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement that the U.S. “condemns in the strongest possible terms the attempted assassination” of Uribe, blaming Petro’s “inflammatory rhetoric” for the violence.
Uribe, who is not yet an official presidential candidate for his party, is from a prominent family in Colombia. His father was a businessman and union leader. His mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was kidnapped in 1990 by an armed group under the command of the late cartel leader Pablo Escobar. She was killed during a rescue operation in 1991.
Colombia has for decades been embroiled in a conflict between leftist rebels, criminal groups descended from right-wing paramilitaries, and the government.
