Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay is in critical condition after surviving an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Bogotá on Saturday, June 7.
According to the BBC, the 39-year-old opposition politician underwent emergency surgery following gunshot wounds to his head and thigh and remains under intensive care, authorities confirmed.
Bogotá Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán stated on Sunday that Uribe “has overcome the first surgical intervention” and is now in “critical hours of recovery.”
The attack occurred during a public rally in the Fontibón neighborhood as part of Uribe’s presidential campaign for the 2026 elections.
The Santa Fe Foundation hospital, where the senator is being treated, reported that multiple medical teams were working to stabilize him.
According to the hospital’s official statement, “The senator is receiving continuous care in the ICU following head and leg surgery.”
Uribe’s wife, María Claudia Tarazona, shared a brief message on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), saying her husband is “fighting for his life.”
Uribe, a member of the right-wing Democratic Centre party founded by former President Álvaro Uribe (no relation), has been a vocal opponent of the current leftist administration.
His party released a statement condemning the attack as “an unacceptable act of violence against democracy.”
According to the Attorney General’s Office, two others were injured during the shooting.
A 15-year-old suspect was arrested at the scene with a firearm. Investigators are pursuing several leads, and authorities have announced a reward of $730,000 for information related to the attack.
Video footage circulated on social media shows the senator bleeding from the head while being assisted by bystanders moments after the shooting.
President Gustavo Petro responded with a firm condemnation of the violence, stating, “Respect for life is the red line.”
He extended his “solidarity to the Uribe and Turbay families,” acknowledging the emotional toll the attack has taken.
In a national address Saturday night, President Petro emphasized the need for a thorough investigation.
“At this moment, we only have hypotheses,” he said, adding that security protocols surrounding the senator will also be scrutinized.
International condemnation was swift. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the attempted assassination of Senator Uribe,” and linked the attack to “inflammatory rhetoric” in Colombian politics.
Latin American leaders echoed similar sentiments. Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared, “There is no room or justification for violence in a democracy,” while Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa stated, “We condemn all forms of violence and intolerance.”
Former President Álvaro Uribe expressed deep sorrow, saying, “They attacked the hope of the country, a great husband, father, son, brother, a great colleague.”
Senator Uribe, who is not officially declared as his party’s presidential candidate, comes from a prominent Colombian family.
His mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was kidnapped by a group connected to drug lord Pablo Escobar in 1990 and died during a rescue attempt in 1991.
Colombia continues to grapple with violence rooted in decades of conflict involving left-wing rebels, criminal organizations, and paramilitary factions.
The attack on Senator Uribe has raised fresh concerns about political safety and stability as the country moves toward its 2026 election.
