Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay, a leading presidential contender, was critically wounded in a shooting at a campaign rally in Bogotá on Saturday. The attack has drawn widespread condemnation as a threat to democracy ahead of Colombia’s 2026 elections.
Uribe, 39, was addressing supporters in a park in the capital’s Fontibón district when an assailant opened fire. Local media reported the suspect, believed to be a teenager, was apprehended at the scene. Initial reports conflicted over whether Uribe was struck in the head or back, but paramedics later confirmed he suffered two gunshot wounds to the head and one to the knee.
The senator was airlifted to the Santa Fe Foundation hospital, where he underwent emergency neurosurgery. His wife, María Claudia Tarazona, posted a plea on his social media account: "Miguel is fighting for his life. We ask for prayers and for God to guide the hands of his medical team."
Uribe, a member of the conservative Democratic Center party, is the grandson of former President Julio Cesar Turbay Ayala (1978–1982) but is unrelated to ex-President Álvaro Uribe. His campaign has centered on security and economic reform, issues at the forefront of Colombia’s polarized political landscape.
President Gustavo Petro, a leftist, canceled a scheduled trip to France, calling the shooting "a red line" and vowing a full investigation. Authorities are examining whether the attack involved more than the detained suspect. Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez announced a 3 billion peso ($730,000) reward for information leading to further arrests.
International figures, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, denounced the violence. Rubio blamed Petro’s "inflammatory rhetoric" for rising tensions and urged protection for opposition figures. Petro, in turn, dismissed speculation about motives, emphasizing the suspect’s age and pledging to probe potential security lapses.
Uribe’s family has been deeply affected by Colombia’s decades-long conflict. His mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was killed in 1991 during a botched rescue operation after being kidnapped by drug lord Pablo Escobar’s cartel.
The shooting underscores persistent instability in a country still grappling with armed groups and political violence. As Uribe battles for survival, the incident has reignited debates over security for candidates ahead of a contentious election cycle.