Latest news with #Fontibon
CBS News
4 hours ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Colombian presidential candidate recovering from surgery after assassination attempt
Colombian Sen. Miguel Uribe Turbay, a possible right-wing candidate in the country's presidential election next year, is recovering after successfully undergoing surgery following an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Bogota. The 39-year-old Uribe was speaking to supporters in the capital city when a gunman shot him twice in the head and once in the knee. He was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition and underwent a "neurosurgical" and "peripheral vascular procedure," the Santa Fe Clinic in Bogota told AFP. He "overcame the first surgical procedure," Bogota Mayor Carlos Fernando Galan told local media. Uribe's wife, in an audio recording shared with the media, said her husband "came out well from the surgery." "He fought the first battle and fought it well. He is fighting for his life," she is heard saying. FILE --- Miguel Uribe Turbay attends the strategic dialogue Rethinking Cities for Competitiveness: Smart and Sustainable Cities at the 2019 Concordia Americas Summit in Bogota, Colombia, on May 14, Concordia Summit The attack took place in a park in the Fontibon neighborhood when armed assailants shot him from behind, said the right-wing Democratic Center, which was the party of former President Álvaro Uribe. The men are not related. The Attorney General's Office, which is investigating the shooting, said a 15-year-old boy was arrested at the scene with a firearm. Two others – a man and a woman – were also wounded in the shooting. "Our hearts are broken, Colombia hurts," Carolina Gomez, a 41-year-old businesswoman, told AFP. After the shooting, Uribe's conservative Democratic Center party released a statement calling it "an unacceptable act of violence." Colombia's government said it was offering a reward for the capture of all those responsible. "Respect life, that's the red line," President Gustavo Petro said in a message posted on his X account. Shortly after making the post, Petro canceled a planned trip to France "due to the seriousness of the events," according to a presidential statement. Relatives and friends of Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay wait to receive news about the state of his health after being shot and wounded in Bogota early on June 8, 2025. RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP via Getty Images 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 called the shooting "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." Uribe Turbay is the son of a journalist who was kidnapped and killed in 1991 during one of the country's most violent periods. Colombia will hold a presidential election on May 31, 2026, marking the end of the current term of Petro, Colombia's first leftist president. The senator announced his presidential bid in March. People gather to pray outside the Fundacion Santa Fe clinic, where Colombian presidential candidate Miguel Uribe is hospitalized after being shot in Bogota on June 8, 2025. ALEJANDRO MARTINEZ/AFP via Getty Images Colombian police chief Gen. Carlos Triana said that at the time of the attack, Uribe Turbay was accompanied by Councilman Andrés Barrios and 20 other people. A minor who allegedly participated in the attack was apprehended at the scene and was being treated for a leg injury, he said. "I have ordered the Colombian military and police forces and intelligence agencies to deploy all their capabilities to urgently clarify the facts," said Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez. Reactions poured in from around Latin America, with Chilean President Gabriel Boric saying, "There is no room or justification for violence in a democracy." Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa said, "We condemn all forms of violence and intolerance." Both presidents offered solidarity to the senator's family. In Colombia, former President Uribe said, "They attacked the hope of the country, a great husband, father, son, brother, a great colleague." contributed to this report.
Arab News
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Spanish government raps Colombian assassination attempt
MADRID: Spain on Sunday condemned the attempted assassination of a Colombian rightwing opposition senator and candidate in next year's presidential election, saying "violence has no place in our societies." "Spain conveys its best wishes for a speedy recovery to the victim and all its solidarity to his family and friends, as well as to the Colombian people," the Spanish Foreign Ministry added in a statement. "The government of Spain strongly condemns the assassination attempt against Colombian senator and presidential pre-candidate Miguel Uribe," the ministry posted on the social media site X. Colombia's Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez said a suspect had been arrested after the shooting and that authorities were investigating whether others were involved. Sanchez said he had visited the hospital where Uribe was being treated. The Colombian Attorney General's Office said in a statement that "a minor under 15 years of age was arrested carrying a Glock pistol-type firearm (9mm)," and President Gustavo Petro called for an investigation into who had ordered the attack. The 39-year-old senator, a member of the opposition conservative Democratic Center party, was shot during a 2026 presidential campaign event in a public park in the Fontibon neighborhood in the capital, according to a party statement condemning the attack. The party said in a statement that "armed subjects shot him from behind" and described the attack as serious, but did not disclose further details on Uribe's condition. Videos on social media showed a man, identified as Uribe, being tended to after the shooting. He appeared to be bleeding from his head. Uribe's wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, wrote on her husband's account on X that he was "fighting for his life." People gathered outside the Santa Fe Foundation hospital where Uribe was being treated, some staged candlelight vigils and prayed, while others carried Colombian flags. The government is offering some $730,000 as a reward for information in the case. Colombia's presidency issued a statement saying the government "categorically and forcefully" rejected the violent attack, and called for a thorough investigation into the events. President Petro sympathized with the senator's family in a message on X: "I don't know how to ease your pain. It is the pain of a mother lost and a homeland." Petro said in a speech on Saturday night: "For now, there is nothing more than a hypothesis." He said that failures in security protocols would also be looked into. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement that the US "condemns in the strongest possible terms the attempted assassination" of Uribe, blaming Petro's "inflammatory rhetoric" for the violence. Uribe, who is not yet an official presidential candidate for his party, is from a prominent family in Colombia. His father was a businessman and a union leader. His mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was kidnapped in 1990 by an armed group under the command of the late cartel leader Pablo Escobar. She was killed during a rescue operation in 1991. Colombia has for decades been embroiled in a conflict between leftist rebels, criminal groups descended from right-wing paramilitaries, and the government.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Colombian Sen. Miguel Uribe Turbay in serious condition after shooting at political rally
BOGOTA (AP) — Colombian Sen. Miguel Uribe Turbay, a conservative presidential hopeful, was in serious condition Sunday following surgery for a gunshot wound at a political rally a day earlier, Bogota's mayor said. Mayor Carlos Galán visited the Fundación Santa Fe clinic to express solidarity with the family of the 39-year-old senator. 'He survived the procedure; these are critical moments and hours for his survival,' said Galán early Sunday after receiving information from the medical staff at the clinic. The hospital said Sunday that Uribe Turbay was recovering in intensive care after undergoing neurosurgery and a procedure on his left thigh. His condition was described as 'extremely serious,' and his prognosis was reserved. 'Miguel continues to fight hard for his life, and I ask each of you to keep praying fervently,' Uribe Turbay's wife, María Claudia Tarazona, said in a statement. Former presidents Álvaro Uribe and César Gaviria visited the clinic, along with senators, city council members and other politicians, including former senator Ingrid Betancourt. The attack took place in a park in the Fontibon neighborhood in Bogota when armed assailants shot him from behind, said the right-wing Democratic Center, which was the party of former president Uribe. The men are not related. Images circulating on social media showed a person firing several shots at the senator from behind, apparently hitting his head before he collapsed. The Attorney General's Office, which is investigating the shooting, said the senator received two gunshot wounds in the attack, which also wounded two others. Their identities and conditions have not been disclosed. The office said a 15-year-old boy was arrested at the scene with a firearm. He was injured in the leg and was recovering at another clinic, authorities said. Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez added that over 100 officers are investigating who was behind the attack. Uribe Turbay is the political heir of his grandfather, former President Julio César Turbay who was in office from 1978-82. His mother, Diana Turbay, was a journalist who was kidnapped and killed in 1991 during a failed rescue attempt. Her death came during one of the most violent periods in the history of the South American country, then-plagued by drug cartel violence. The senator announced his presidential bid in early March. Colombia will hold a presidential election on May 31, 2026, marking the end of President Gustavo Petro's term. Petro, the country's first leftist leader, is not eligible for reelection. Outside the Fundación Santa Fe clinic, dozens of people gathered in prayer for Uribe Turbay's recovery. Late on Saturday, after leading an extraordinary Security Council session, Petro, Colombia's first leftist president, promised 'complete transparency' in the investigation and to find out who was behind the attack. He also promised an investigation into any failures by the senator's bodyguards. The president canceled a planned trip to France 'due to the seriousness of the events,' according to a presidential statement. 'I hope Uribe Turbay survives — that is what I wish more than anything,' Petro said, adding that no one should seek to politically exploit the attack. World leaders and senior officials, including from the United States, Chile, Ecuador, and the European Union, condemned the violence and expressed support for the Colombian people and Uribe Turbay's family. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X that the 'United State condemns in the strongest possible terms the attempted assassination of Senator Miguel Uribe.' He urged Petro 'to dial back the inflammatory rhetoric and protect Colombian officials.' 'This is a direct threat to democracy and the result of the violent leftist rhetoric coming from the highest levels of the Colombian government,' Rubio said. ___ Follow AP's coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at The Associated Press
Associated Press
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Colombian Sen. Miguel Uribe Turbay in serious condition after shooting at political rally
BOGOTA (AP) — Colombian Sen. Miguel Uribe Turbay, a conservative presidential hopeful, was in serious condition Sunday following surgery for a gunshot wound at a political rally a day earlier, Bogota's mayor said. Mayor Carlos Galán visited the Fundación Santa Fe clinic to express solidarity with the family of the 39-year-old senator. 'He survived the procedure; these are critical moments and hours for his survival,' said Galán early Sunday after receiving information from the medical staff at the clinic. The hospital said Sunday that Uribe Turbay was recovering in intensive care after undergoing neurosurgery and a procedure on his left thigh. His condition was described as 'extremely serious,' and his prognosis was reserved. 'Miguel continues to fight hard for his life, and I ask each of you to keep praying fervently,' Uribe Turbay's wife, María Claudia Tarazona, said in a statement. Former presidents Álvaro Uribe and César Gaviria visited the clinic, along with senators, city council members and other politicians, including former senator Ingrid Betancourt. The attack took place in a park in the Fontibon neighborhood in Bogota when armed assailants shot him from behind, said the right-wing Democratic Center, which was the party of former president Uribe. The men are not related. Images circulating on social media showed a person firing several shots at the senator from behind, apparently hitting his head before he collapsed. The Attorney General's Office, which is investigating the shooting, said the senator received two gunshot wounds in the attack, which also wounded two others. Their identities and conditions have not been disclosed. The office said a 15-year-old boy was arrested at the scene with a firearm. He was injured in the leg and was recovering at another clinic, authorities said. Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez added that over 100 officers are investigating who was behind the attack. Uribe Turbay is the political heir of his grandfather, former President Julio César Turbay who was in office from 1978-82. His mother, Diana Turbay, was a journalist who was kidnapped and killed in 1991 during a failed rescue attempt. Her death came during one of the most violent periods in the history of the South American country, then-plagued by drug cartel violence. The senator announced his presidential bid in early March. Colombia will hold a presidential election on May 31, 2026, marking the end of President Gustavo Petro's term. Petro, the country's first leftist leader, is not eligible for reelection. Outside the Fundación Santa Fe clinic, dozens of people gathered in prayer for Uribe Turbay's recovery. Late on Saturday, after leading an extraordinary Security Council session, Petro, Colombia's first leftist president, promised 'complete transparency' in the investigation and to find out who was behind the attack. He also promised an investigation into any failures by the senator's bodyguards. The president canceled a planned trip to France 'due to the seriousness of the events,' according to a presidential statement. 'I hope Uribe Turbay survives — that is what I wish more than anything,' Petro said, adding that no one should seek to politically exploit the attack. World leaders and senior officials, including from the United States, Chile, Ecuador, and the European Union, condemned the violence and expressed support for the Colombian people and Uribe Turbay's family. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X that the 'United State condemns in the strongest possible terms the attempted assassination of Senator Miguel Uribe.' He urged Petro 'to dial back the inflammatory rhetoric and protect Colombian officials.' 'This is a direct threat to democracy and the result of the violent leftist rhetoric coming from the highest levels of the Colombian government,' Rubio said. ___ Follow AP's coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at
Free Malaysia Today
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Surgery on Colombian senator went well after shooting, says wife
Miguel Uribe was shot in the head during a campaign event in Bogota. (EPA Images pic) BOGOTA : Colombian senator Miguel Uribe, a potential presidential contender, survived an initial operation for his injuries after being shot in Bogota today, according to his wife and the hospital treating him, although he remains in intensive care. Uribe, 39, is a member of the opposition right-wing Democratic Center party and was shot in the head during a campaign event in a public park in the Fontibon neighbourhood. Campaigning is just beginning for the country's 2026 presidential election and Uribe, who is from a prominent political family, does not have a well-known platform so far. It was unclear why he was targeted in the attack. Though he has talked about the need to improve security and about having personally suffered in the country's conflict, many other potential candidates, including others from his party, have also said steps must be taken to tackle crime. Uribe's grandfather was president from 1978 to 1982, while his mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was kidnapped in 1990 by an armed group under the command of the late cartel leader Pablo Escobar. She was killed during a rescue operation in 1991. 'Miguel came out of surgery, he made it. Every hour is a critical hour. He fought his first battle, and it went well,' his wife Maria Claudia Tarazona told local media. 'This will take time.' The couple are parents to a young son. In a statement, the Santa Fe Foundation hospital where Uribe was treated said he had procedures on his head and his left thigh, and remained in intensive care as doctors seek to stabilise his condition. Bogota's mayor, Carlos Galan, whose own presidential candidate father was assassinated in 1989, addressed journalists outside the hospital overnight, saying he had asked for increased protection for all candidates in Bogota and for Uribe's family.
