Son of a slain journalist, grandson of a President: Who is Miguel Uribe Turbay, the Colombian presidential hopeful shot at a campaign?
AP FILE - Miguel Uribe Turbay, center in blue tie, a Colombian senator and presidential candidate for the right-wing Centro Democrático party, celebrates after voting against a labor reform referendum proposed by the government, in Bogota, Colombia, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara, File)
Colombian right-leaning Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay, a prominent presidential contender for the 2026 elections, was shot and seriously wounded during a campaign event in Bogotá on Saturday afternoon, June 7.
The attack occurred around 5 p.m. COT while Uribe Turbay, the candidate from the opposition Centro Democratico party, was addressing supporters from a stage in the capital's Modelia neighborhood. Multiple gunshots were fired, striking the senator in the back and reportedly in the head. He collapsed immediately and was rushed to a nearby clinic in critical condition, as Semana reported.
Bogotá Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán confirmed that the suspected gunman was apprehended at the scene and said security forces acted swiftly to detain the assailant. Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez later announced that a reward of 3 billion Colombian pesos would be offered for information leading to the identification of those behind the attempt.The incident has shocked the nation and drawn comparisons to Colombia's violent political past. The country endured a series of high-profile political assassinations in the late 20th century, including those of Luis Carlos Galán and Carlos Pizarro. Many political leaders have voiced deep concern over a return to that era.
President Gustavo Petro strongly condemned the attack, calling it 'an attack on democracy.' He expressed solidarity with Uribe Turbay and said that political violence must never again become a part of Colombia's reality. Former President Álvaro Uribe called Uribe Turbay 'a national hope' and urged a full and swift investigation.
Additional statements of condemnation came from Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia and former President Iván Duque, who called the shooting 'an attack on the country and its democracy.'In response to the incident, the government has promised to strengthen protection measures for all political candidates ahead of the 2026 elections.
Miguel Uribe Turbay, 39, is a right-leaning senator and a prominent member of the opposition Democratic Center party, founded by former President Álvaro Uribe, though the two are not related. He is the grandson of former Colombian President Julio César Turbay and the son of journalist Diana Turbay, who was killed in 1991 during a failed rescue operation after being kidnapped by Pablo Escobar's Medellín cartel.Educated at Colombia's Universidad de los Andes and Harvard's Kennedy School, Uribe has been a strong critic of President Gustavo Petro's leftist reforms. He has positioned himself as a key conservative voice ahead of the 2026 elections.
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