Shocking video shows Colombian candidate Miguel Uribe shot in head during Bogota rally
A video circulating on social media captured the moment when Miguel Uribe Turbay, a candidate in next year's Colombian presidential election, was shot during a campaign event in Bogota on Saturday.
According to AFP, quoting paramedics, the 39-year-old right-wing opposition senator was shot three times — twice in the head and once in the knee.
Uribe Turbay, currently a senator, is also the son of a journalist who was kidnapped and murdered in 1991, during one of Colombia's most violent eras.
In a video shared on X, Turbay was seen delivering a speech at a public rally when gunfire erupted. The video shows a sudden disturbance, with more than three shots heard.
HT.com could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.
Images circulating on social media showed the 39-year-old bloodied, with what appeared to be a head wound, being supported by several people.
As of now, no official update has been issued regarding the senator's condition, according to the Associated Press.
The attack triggered reactions across Latin America. Chilean President Gabriel Boric said, 'There is no room or justification for violence in a democracy,' while Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa stated, 'We condemn all forms of violence and intolerance.'
In Colombia, former President Uribe said, "They attacked the hope of the country, a great husband, father, son, brother, a great colleague.'
Miguel Uribe Turbay's conservative Democratic Centre party condemned the attack, calling it 'an unacceptable act of violence.'
The assault occurred in a park in the Fontibon neighborhood, where armed attackers shot Turbay from behind, the Democratic Center—the party of former President Alvaro Uribe—said. The two Uribes are not related.
A suspected gunman has been arrested, Bogotá Mayor Carlos Galán confirmed on X. However, the federal government announced a reward for information leading to the capture of others involved.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro posted on X: 'Respect life, that's the red line.'
Following this, Petro cancelled a planned visit to France 'due to the seriousness of the events,' according to an official statement.
Colombia is set to hold its presidential election on May 31, 2026, as President Petro, the country's first leftist president, completes his term.
Turbay had announced his candidacy in March.
According to Colombian police chief Gen. Carlos Triana, at the time of the attack, Turbay was accompanied by Councilman Andrés Barrios and around 20 others. A minor allegedly involved in the assault was detained at the scene and is being treated for a leg wound. Authorities also recovered a firearm.
Defence minister Pedro Sánchez said: 'I have ordered the Colombian military and police forces and intelligence agencies to deploy all their capabilities to urgently clarify the facts.'
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X that the 'United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the attempted assassination of Senator Miguel Uribe,' and urged President Petro 'to dial back the inflammatory rhetoric and protect Colombian officials.'
Rubio further stated: 'This is a direct threat to democracy and the result of the violent leftist rhetoric coming from the highest levels of the Colombian government.'
(With inputs from AP, AFP)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
31 minutes ago
- India Today
Rahul Gandhi doubles down on poll rigging charge, challenges Election Commission
2:26 Colombian presidential candidate Miguel Uribe was shot during a rally in Bogota's Fontana district. A 15-year-old suspect has been arrested with a 9mm Glock pistol. Uribe is currently hospitalised in critical condition. The US Secretary of State has condemned the attack, calling it a direct threat to democracy. Colombian authorities are investigating whether it was a lone wolf attack or an organized assassination attempt.
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Mother Of Colombian Leader Shot In Head Was Kidnapped By Pablo Escobar
Colombian presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe Turbay was shot three times, twice in the head, during a campaign event in a Bogota park on Saturday. A 15-year-old boy was arrested at the scene, according to local media. Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez confirmed the arrest and said authorities are investigating possible accomplices. The motive behind the attack is unknown. Mr Uribe's wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, said he is "fighting for his life." Mr Uribe belongs to a well-known Colombian family. His father was a union leader and businessman tied to the Liberal Party. His mother, Diana Turbay, a journalist, was kidnapped in 1990 by a group working under drug lord Pablo Escobar and died in a failed rescue attempt. Who Was Diana Turbay? Born on March 9, 1950, in Bogota, Diana Turbay was the daughter of Julio Cesar Turbay Ayala, Colombia's 25th president. She founded and directed the news magazine Hoy x Hoy and was known for her sharp questions, deep empathy, and refusal to sensationalise violence, a rarity in Colombia's media at the time. Story Of Diana Turbay In Colombia's blood-soaked history of drug cartels and political turmoil, few stories are as symbolic as that of Diana Turbay, a courageous journalist, the daughter of a former president, and a casualty in Pablo Escobar's brutal war with the state. On January 25, 1991, Diana, just 40, died from a gunshot wound during a botched rescue mission. She had been held hostage for nearly five months by operatives of the Medellin Cartel, Colombia's most feared criminal empire, run by Escobar. But her story, and the events leading to her death, began long before that tragic day. The Deadly Assignment In August 1990, Diana set out on what she believed would be a landmark interview with a guerrilla leader known as "Cura Perez," a high-ranking figure in the ELN (National Liberation Army). Accompanied by five other journalists and a cameraman, she left Bogota and headed into Antioquia's rugged mountains. Hace 33 años perdí a mi mamá, Diana Turbay y hoy a pesar del tiempo que ha pasado, mi mamá ha sido mi motivación y ejemplo para trabajar por nuestro país. Me enseñó que los principios no se negocian y el valor de la integridad. Como periodista fue fiel a la verdad y creyente de… — Miguel Uribe (@MiguelUribeT) January 25, 2024 The interview was a trap. The supposed guerrillas were actually members of Los Priscos, a brutal gang working directly under Pablo Escobar. Their mission was to kidnap prominent Colombians to pressure the government into stopping extradition to the United States, Escobar's most feared outcome. Diana was now one of Escobar's pawns. Months In Captivity She was held at a remote ranch in Copacabana, north of Medellin. Fellow hostage Richard Becerra, a cameraman, was also detained with her. Reports say she was treated "humanely" by her captors. She managed to smuggle out letters, encouraged the release of another journalist, and reportedly asked authorities not to use force. She won the respect of even those who guarded her. But time was running out. The Fatal Rescue On January 25, 1991, Colombian police, acting on intelligence, launched a rescue operation without informing her family. What happened next was tragic. In the crossfire, Diana was hit in the back. The bullet damaged vital organs. She was rushed to a hospital in Medellin but died shortly after undergoing emergency surgery. It was never confirmed whether the fatal shot came from her captors or the police, but the operation was widely condemned. Her family had pleaded against a forced rescue, fearing exactly this outcome. Her death is chronicled in Gabriel Garcia Marquez's News of a Kidnapping.
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
Colombian presidential candidate Miguel Uribe shot in head during rally
Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe was shot in Bogota, reported that he was in a local hospital in serious condition. Miguel Uribe Turbay, 39, was attacked while addressing a small crowd in a park on Saturday. Police arrested a 15-year-old suspect at the scene, local media say. His wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, called on nation to pray for his survival. Miguel is currently fighting for his life. Let us ask God to guide the hands of the doctors who are treating him," she said. Show more 09:45 09:01 03:13 08:51 08:05 05:03 09:01 01:03 06:24 09:00 09:36 01:50 02:27 10:59 01:35 08:03 03:02 08:52 02:22 05:05 12:11 03:35 07:46 02:03 04:31 08:53 08:44 02:29 03:07 03:30 10:00 08:03 04:33
