Colombian senator and presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe Turbay is in critical condition after being shot three times during a campaign appearance in Bogotá on Saturday. Uribe, 39, survived an initial operation for his injuries after being shot, although he remains in intensive care.
Uribe is a member of the opposition right-wing Democratic Center party and was shot in the head during a campaign event in a public park in the Fontibon neighborhood, where he was giving a speech to supporter. Footage verified by NBC News appears to capture the moment Uribe was struck by gunfire, including a shot to the head. The video features the sound of multiple shots and shows panicked supporters fleeing as chaos erupted.
According to local media, police quickly detained a 15-year-old suspect at the scene. The attorney general’s office said in a statement that he was carrying a 9-millimeter Glock-type pistol. Authorities have not released a motive for the shooting. General Carlos Triana, head of Colombia’s National Police, announced in a video that the Minister of Defense had offered a reward of up to 3 billion pesos (roughly $726,000) for any additional information related to the case.
Leftist President Gustavo Petro urged an investigation into who had ordered the attack in remarks late on Saturday, with the government stating it is investigating if there were other potential perpetrators. In a video message, he emphasized the government’s commitment to uncovering the truth behind the attempted assassination: “Turbay is alive, and all efforts today are focused on keeping him that way.”
In a statement, the Santa Fe Foundation hospital where Uribe was treated said he had procedures on his head and his left thigh, and remained in intensive care as doctors seek to stabilize his condition. His wife Maria Claudia Tarazona told local media on Sunday: “Miguel came out of surgery, he made it. Every hour is a critical hour. He fought his first battle, and it went well. This will take time.” The couple are parents to a young son.
Uribe’s political party, Centro Democrático, condemned the shooting in a statement, calling it “an intolerable act of violence.” Uribe, a right-leaning senator since 2022, is known for his criticism of President Petro; he launched his bid for the 2026 presidential election in October. Uribe’s mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was killed in 1991 during a failed rescue operation after being kidnapped by Pablo Escobar’s Medellín cartel.
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