Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay Shot at Campaign Rally: Critical Condition and Nationwide Outrage
In a shocking incident, Colombian senator Miguel Uribe Turbay, a presidential candidate, was critically injured during a campaign rally in Bogotá. The 39-year-old politician was shot multiple times while speaking at a public event in the Fontibon neighborhood, according to authorities from the Attorney General’s office. Eyewitnesses reported seeing him severely injured and covered in blood as aides and bystanders rushed to assist him.
Urgently transported to the Santa Fe Foundation Hospital, Senator Uribe Turbay is currently in critical condition and undergoing crucial neurosurgical and vascular procedures. The attack also left two other individuals injured, though details about their conditions have not been disclosed. Police apprehended a 15-year-old male suspect at the scene, who is also receiving treatment for a leg injury, as confirmed by police chief General Carlos Triana.
Senator Uribe Turbay, a member of the right-wing Democratic Center Party, announced his presidential campaign in March and aimed to succeed President Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s first leftist leader, in the upcoming elections scheduled for May 31 next year. This tragic event resonates deeply as Uribe Turbay’s father, a journalist, was kidnapped and murdered during one of Colombia’s darkest periods in 1991.
His wife, Maria Claudia Tarazone, took to social media platform X to share that he is "fighting for his life" and called for Colombians to pray for his recovery. The Democratic Center Party condemned the shooting as an "unacceptable act of violence," and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio strongly criticized the attack, urging Colombia’s current leadership to "dial back the inflammatory rhetoric and protect officials."
Former Colombian president Álvaro Uribe, who is not related to Miguel Uribe Turbay, expressed his outrage, stating that the attack undermines the hopes of the nation. He canceled a scheduled trip to France due to the seriousness of the situation, and law enforcement has announced a reward to help capture any additional suspects involved in the attack.
Messages of solidarity have poured in from across Latin America. Chilean President Gabriel Boric emphasized that "there is no room or justification for violence in a democracy," while Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa condemned all forms of violence and intolerance. As the nation rallies in support of Senator Uribe Turbay, the call for peace and security in Colombia has never been more urgent.
Stay updated on this developing story as we continue to follow the latest news and reactions from Colombia and around the world.
