Colombian senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay is in critical condition after being shot during a campaign rally in Bogotá on Saturday.
According to the General Prosecutor’s Office, Uribe, 39, was struck by three bullets—two to the head and one to the knee—while addressing supporters in a park in the city’s Fontibón district.
As seen in circulating video footage, gunfire erupted in the middle of Uribe’s speech, sending the crowd into a panic. He collapsed on stage and was quickly rushed to an ambulance before being airlifted to the Santa Fe de Bogotá Foundation hospital.
Hospital officials said the senator underwent emergency neurosurgical and vascular procedures. He remains in intensive care in “extremely serious” but stable condition.
His wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, confirmed to AFP: “He came out well from the surgery. He fought the first battle and fought it well. He is fighting for his life.”
According to the General Prosecutor’s Office, two other people, a man and a woman, were also injured in the attack.
Authorities arrested a 15-year-old boy at the scene and recovered a Glock-style 9mm handgun. Investigators are now working to determine whether he acted alone and what motivated the attack.
Uribe, a prominent member of the opposition Centro Democrático party, recently announced his bid for the 2026 presidential election.
His party called the attack a direct assault on Colombia’s democratic process.
President Gustavo Petro condemned the shooting and said: “We have political differences, but they are only political. What matters now is that Miguel Uribe survives.” Petro vowed a thorough investigation and pledged to pursue those behind the attack.
Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a reward of 3 billion Colombian pesos (approximately $730,000) for information leading to the identification and capture of those responsible for the attack.
Meanwhile, in a statement Saturday night, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. “condemns in the strongest possible terms the attempted assassination of Senator Miguel Uribe.”
Rubio described the shooting as “a direct threat to democracy and the result of the violent leftist rhetoric coming from the highest levels of the Colombian government.”
“Having seen firsthand Colombia’s progress over the past few decades to consolidate security and democracy, it can’t afford to go back to dark days of political violence. President Petro needs to dial back the inflammatory rhetoric and protect Colombian officials,” Rubio added.
