Colombia is reeling after Miguel Uribe Turbay, a prominent senator and presidential hopeful for the 2026 elections, was shot multiple times during a campaign rally in Bogota on June. Uribe, 39, was addressing supporters in the Fontibon district when a teenage assailant opened fire, hitting him twice in the head and once in the knee. He was rushed to the Santa Fe Clinic and remains in critical condition in intensive care.
Authorities quickly apprehended a 14-year-old suspect at the scene. The weapon used—a 9mm Glock-style pistol—was traced back to a legal purchase in Arizona, United States. The Colombian Attorney General’s office has announced charges of attempted homicide and illegal firearm possession against the suspect, and investigations are ongoing to identify any accomplices.
The attack has sparked widespread condemnation across Colombia’s political spectrum and internationally. President Gustavo Petro and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio both denounced the shooting, calling it an assault on democracy. Leaders from neighboring countries also expressed solidarity with Uribe and his family.
Uribe, a member of the right-wing Democratic Center party and grandson of former President Julio César Turbay, has been a vocal critic of the current administration. His family, including his wife Maria Claudia Tarazona, has asked the nation to pray for his recovery as supporters hold vigils outside the hospital.
The incident has intensified concerns about political violence in Colombia ahead of the 2026 presidential election, with authorities pledging to strengthen security measures for all candidates.
