Colombian senator and presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe Turbay was critically wounded during a campaign event in Bogotá on Saturday. The 39‑year‑old, representing the right‑wing Democratic Centre party, was shot in the back at El Golfito Park in the Fontibón district. The suspected assailant, a 15‑year‑old, was arrested at the scene.
Images show Uribe Turbay, grandson of former President Julio César Turbay Ayala, bleeding and being supported by aides as he was transported to a hospital. Medical teams have mobilized across Bogotá, and he remains in critical condition undergoing neurosurgical treatment. A substantial reward—about $730,000—has been offered for information leading to the shooter’s accomplices.
The attack has triggered alarm across Colombia. President Gustavo Petro called it an assault on democracy and postponed a scheduled trip to France. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the act as a direct threat to democracy, tying it to inflammatory political rhetoric. National defense and security leaders have been mobilized to investigate the attack and safeguard future political events.
The shooting has reopened wounds in Colombia’s political history. The memory of Luis Carlos Galán, assassinated in 1989, looms large amid fears that political violence may be resurging despite the 2016 peace accord. Senior political figures across ideological lines have called for unity and measures to protect democratic engagement.
