Colombian Right-Wing Presidential Candidate Critically Wounded in Bogotá Shooting - shot in the head

BOGOTÁ, Colombia — Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay, a right-wing presidential hopeful for the 2026 election, was shot and critically injured during a campaign rally in Bogotá on Saturday, June 7, 2025. The attack, which authorities have described as an assassination attempt, has shocked a nation with a long history of political violence and raised concerns about escalating tensions ahead of next year’s election.

According to Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office, Uribe, 39, was shot three times—twice in the head and once in the chest—while addressing supporters in a park in the Fontibón neighborhood. A 15-year-old boy was arrested at the scene, and police recovered a 9mm Glock pistol, the Bogotá mayor’s office confirmed. Two others were injured in the attack, though their identities have not been disclosed. Uribe was rushed to the Santa Fe de Bogotá Foundation hospital, where he underwent successful neurosurgical and vascular procedures. He remains in critical condition, with his wife, María Claudia Tarazona, urging Colombians to pray for his survival. “Miguel is fighting for his life,” she said in a statement.

The assault has drawn widespread condemnation from Colombian and international leaders. President Gustavo Petro, a leftist and frequent target of Uribe’s criticism, called the shooting a “day of pain” and ordered an investigation into the attack. “What matters most today is that all Colombians focus with the energy of our hearts… on ensuring that Dr. Miguel Uribe stays alive,” Petro said in a video address. Colombia’s Defense Minister, Pedro Sánchez, offered a reward of up to 3 million Colombian pesos for information leading to the identification of those responsible.

Uribe, a member of the conservative Democratic Center party founded by former President Álvaro Uribe (no relation), is a prominent figure in Colombian politics. The Harvard graduate and grandson of former President Julio César Turbay has served as a senator since 2022 and held roles in Bogotá’s city government. His mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was kidnapped by Pablo Escobar’s Medellín cartel in 1990 and killed during a botched rescue operation in 1991, a tragedy that has drawn parallels to Saturday’s attack.

The Democratic Center party called the shooting “an unacceptable act of violence” and a “direct threat to democracy.” Some party members and international figures, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, pointed to “violent leftist rhetoric” from Colombia’s government as a contributing factor, though no evidence was provided to support this claim. Rubio urged President Petro to “dial back the inflammatory rhetoric and protect Colombian officials.” Political analyst Sergio Guzmán described the attack as a “shocking development,” warning that it signals a regression to Colombia’s “dark days of political violence.”

Colombia has grappled with political violence for decades, with three presidential candidates assassinated in the lead-up to the 1990 election. While high-profile attacks in Bogotá had waned in recent years, the country continues to face conflict between leftist rebels, criminal groups, and government forces. President Petro, elected in 2022 on a platform of “total peace,” has struggled to broker deals with armed groups, and critics argue that security has deteriorated under his administration.

The shooting has sent shockwaves through Colombia’s political landscape, with vigils held outside the hospital where Uribe is being treated. Former President Álvaro Uribe called the attacker’s actions an assault on “the hope of the country.” As investigations continue, the incident has reignited debates about political polarization and the safety of public figures in Colombia.

17GEN4.com

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