Bogota: Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay, a rising star and potential candidate for the 2026 presidential election, was shot at a campaign event in Bogotá’s Fontibón district and is now in critical condition, according to official statements.
During a Saturday evening rally attended by supporters, assailants opened fire at Senator Uribe Turbay from behind. The attack wounded Uribe Turbay and injured at least two others. One suspect—reported to be a 15-year-old youth—was apprehended at the scene, along with a firearm.
Rushed to the Santa Fe Foundation Hospital, Uribe Turbay underwent emergency neurosurgical and vascular surgery. His wife, María Claudia Tarazona, described him as “fighting for his life,” pleading with Colombians to pray for his recovery.
President Gustavo Petro swiftly condemned the assassination attempt, canceled a scheduled trip to France, and convened an urgent National Security Council meeting. He pledged a transparent investigation, promising accountability for both the gunman and any potential masterminds behind the attack.
Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez mobilized military, police, and intelligence units to support a rapid inquiry. Authorities have also announced a substantial $730,000 reward for information leading to the identification of all perpetrators.
The incident has sent shockwaves across Colombia’s political landscape, recalling the dark era of political violence marked by the 1980s-era assassinations of presidential figures like Luis Carlos Galán. Public reaction has been swift and unified; from President Petro to opposition leaders, the attack has drawn bipartisan condemnation and urgent calls for a halt to violent rhetoric.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the attempt in strong terms, urging President Petro to moderate his language and protect public officials. Chilean President Gabriel Boric and Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa also joined in denouncing the attack .
Miguel Uribe Turbay, 39, is a member of the conservative Democratic Center party. He bears a personal legacy steeped in tragedy—his mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was killed during a rescue operation by Medellín Cartel gunmen in 1991. His grandfather, Julio César Turbay Ayala, served as Colombia’s president from 1978 to 1982.
His nascent presidential bid, launched in March 2025, emphasized national security and a firm stance on crime. Now, with his life hanging in the balance, the attack has elevated concerns that political violence may once again threaten Colombia’s fragile democracy.
Authorities are intensifying their probe into whether more individuals were involved and assessing potential security failures. In the critically charged atmosphere ahead of the 2026 elections, President Petro’s administration faces mounting pressure to address the root causes of political violence—and ensure that democracy in Colombia prevails unscathed.