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RNZ News
a day ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Colombian presidential candidate's condition 'grave' after assassination attempt
By Alba Santana , AFP Miguel Uribe. Photo: AFP/SEBASTIAN BARROS A prominent Colombian presidential candidate was in "grave" condition and "fighting for his life" in hospital Sunday, after an alleged teen gunman shot him twice in the head at a Bogota campaign rally. Thirty-nine-year-old right-wing Senator Miguel Uribe underwent successful initial surgery to contain injuries from Saturday's attack, but doctors warned his life was still in serious peril. He remains in "the most grave condition and the prognosis is reserved" said medics at the capital's Santa Fe Clinic. Uribe's shooting has utterly shocked a nation that had believed decades of bloody political and narco violence were largely in the past. Hundreds took to the streets in major cities on Sunday to light candles, pray and voice their anger at the attack. "Our hearts are broken, Colombia hurts," Carolina Gomez, a 41-year-old businesswoman, told AFP as she lit candles and prayed outside the hospital where Uribe was being treated. The crowd joined together in cries of "strength to you Miguel" and "the people are with you." Uribe's wife Maria Claudia Tarazona thanked Colombians for their support and asked that they collectively pray for his survival. "He is fighting hard for his life," she said. The senator received two gunshot wounds to the head and was also shot once in the leg. Although a security guard at the scene captured the alleged gunman, the motive for the shooting is still not publicly known. Uribe had been a fierce critic of Colombia's leftist government, of guerrilla groups that still control chunks of the country and of ultra-powerful drug cartels. The government has vowed to use every police, military and intelligence resource to uncover the motive and find those who hired the alleged would-be assassin. Police said there had been no specific threats against Uribe's life, but like other public figures he had close personal protection. The young Senator's family history traces the tragedies of modern Colombia, making the attack all the more poignant for many. He is the grandson of a former president Julio Cesar Turbay whose 1978-1982 term was marked by guerrilla insurgencies and the emergence of the Medellin and Cali drug cartels. Pablo Escobar. Photo: supplied But Uribe is best known as the son of Diana Turbay, a famed Colombian journalist who was killed after being kidnapped by Pablo Escobar and whose death rocked the nation. A team of about 100 investigators are now working to determine the motive for the attack, Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez said Sunday. Earlier he had offered a roughly US$725,000 (NZ$1.2m) reward for information about who was behind the shooting. The suspect, believed to be about 15 years old, was injured in the affray and was receiving treatment, said police director Carlos Fernando Triana. Two others - a man and a woman - were also wounded, and a Glock-style firearm was seized. The attack has been condemned by politicians across the political spectrum. Leftist President Gustavo Petro condemned the violence as "an attack not only against his person, but also against democracy, freedom of thought, and the legitimate exercise of politics in Colombia". The shooting was similarly condemned from overseas, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling it "a direct threat to democracy". But Rubio also pointed blame at Petro, claiming the attack was the "result of the violent leftist rhetoric coming from the highest levels of the Colombian government". "President Petro needs to dial back the inflammatory rhetoric and protect Colombian officials," the top US diplomat said. - AFP
CNA
a day ago
- Politics
- CNA
Colombian presidential candidate's condition 'grave' after assassination attempt
BOGOTÁ, Colombia: A prominent Colombian presidential candidate was in "grave" condition and "fighting for his life" in hospital Sunday (Jun 8), after an alleged teen gunman shot him twice in the head at a Bogotá campaign rally. Thirty nine year old right-wing Senator Miguel Uribe underwent successful initial surgery to contain injuries from Saturday's attack, but doctors warned his life was still in serious peril. He remains in "the most grave condition and the prognosis is reserved" said medics at the capital's Santa Fe Clinic. Uribe's shooting has utterly shocked a nation that had believed decades of bloody political and narco violence were largely in the past. Hundreds took to the streets in major cities on Sunday to light candles, pray and voice their anger at the attack. "Our hearts are broken, Colombia hurts," Carolina Gomez, a 41 year old businesswoman, told AFP as she lit candles and prayed outside the hospital where Uribe was being treated. The crowd joined together in cries of "strength to you Miguel" and "the people are with you." Uribe's wife Maria Claudia Tarazona thanked Colombians for their support and asked that they collectively pray for his survival. "He is fighting hard for his life," she said. The senator received two gunshot wounds to the head and was also shot once in the leg. Although a security guard at the scene captured the alleged gunman, the motive for the shooting is still not publicly known. Uribe had been a fierce critic of Colombia's leftist government, of guerrilla groups that still control chunks of the country and of ultra-powerful drug cartels. The government has vowed to use every police, military and intelligence resource to uncover the motive and find those who hired the alleged would-be assassin. Police said there had been no specific threats against Uribe's life, but like other public figures he had close personal protection. The young Senator's family history traces the tragedies of modern Colombia, making the attack all the more poignant for many. He is the grandson of a former president Julio Cesar Turbay whose 1978-1982 term was marked by guerrilla insurgencies and the emergence of the Medellin and Cali drug cartels. But Uribe is best known as the son of Diana Turbay, a famed Colombian journalist who was killed after being kidnapped by Pablo Escobar and whose death rocked the nation. 'Day of pain' A team of about 100 investigators are now working to determine the motive for the attack, Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez said Sunday. Earlier he had offered a roughly US$725,000 reward for information about who was behind the shooting. The suspect is believed to be about 15 years old was injured in the affray and was receiving treatment, said police director Carlos Fernando Triana. Two others, a man and a woman, were also wounded, and a Glock-style firearm was seized. The attack has been condemned by politicians across the political spectrum. Leftist President Gustavo Petro condemned the violence as "an attack not only against his person, but also against democracy, freedom of thought, and the legitimate exercise of politics in Colombia." The shooting was similarly condemned from overseas, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling it "a direct threat to democracy."
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Colombian presidential candidate Miguel Uribe shot in Bogotá
The Colombian presidential candidate who was shot in Bogotá has successfully undergone a first operation after being flown to hospital in critical condition, the city's mayor has said. 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)'. Uribe's wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, wrote on her husband's X account that he was 'fighting for his life'.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Colombian presidential hopeful shot in head is fighting for life, family says
Colombian senator Miguel Uribe is in critical condition after being shot at a campaign event in Bogota on Saturday, according to his wife, government officials, and party authorities. The 39-year-old senator, a member of the opposition conservative Democratic Center party, was attacked during a 2026 presidential campaign event in a public park in the Fontibon neighborhood, the party said in a statement. The statement condemned the attack, saying "armed subjects shot him from behind," but did not disclose further details on Uribe's condition. Videos circulating on social media showed a man identified as Uribe receiving treatment after the shooting, with visible head wounds. His wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, posted on X that he was "fighting for his life." The Colombian Attorney General's Office reported the arrest of "a minor under 15 years of age" who was carrying a 9mm Glock pistol. President Gustavo Petro has ordered an investigation into who ordered the attack. Supporters gathered outside the Santa Fe Foundation hospital, holding candlelight vigils, praying, and waving Colombian flags. Colombia's Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez said a suspect had been arrested in the shooting and that authorities were investigating whether others were involved. Sanchez said he had visited the hospital where Uribe was being treated. Investigation is underway 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. Leftist President Gustavo Petro sympathized with the senator's family in a message on X, saying: "I don't know how to ease your pain. It is the pain of a mother lost, and of a homeland." Petro later said in a speech on Saturday night that the person arrested was a minor and that the investigation would focus on finding who had ordered the attack. "For now there is nothing more than hypothesis," Petro said, adding that failures in security protocols would also be looked into. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement that the U.S. "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 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.
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
Colombian President vows to find mastermind after Senator Miguel Uribe shot by teen at campaign event
Colombian senator and presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe is in critical condition after being shot at a campaign event in Bogota, allegedly by a 15-year-old boy, according to CNN. The 39-year-old opposition leader from the center-right Centro Democratico party was addressing a crowd in the capital's Fontibon district on Saturday afternoon when gunshots rang out. He was shot twice and rushed to hospital. Police said the suspect, a minor, was found carrying a Glock pistol when arrested, CNN reported. Video footage showed Uribe collapsing mid-speech as the crowd dispersed in panic. His party confirmed he was shot in the back during the event. Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the attack and vowed to pursue those responsible, suggesting the involvement of organised criminals. "No resource should be spared, not a single peso or a single moment of energy, to find the mastermind ... whether in Colombia or abroad," Petro said. The president linked the attack to a broader pattern of minors being used by crime syndicates. He called for an independent probe to determine the "intellectual authors" behind the shooting and emphasised that politics must remain "free of violence." Uribe's wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, shared a message on his social media account: "Miguel is fighting for his life right now. Let us ask God to guide the hands of the doctors who are treating him." Santa Fe de Bogota Foundation hospital stated that the senator underwent neurosurgical and vascular procedures. Attorney General Luz Adriana Camargo later confirmed that Uribe's condition remained stable but critical. Uribe belongs to a prominent political family. His grandfather, Julio Cesar Turbay Ayala, served as Colombia's president from 1978 to 1982. His mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was kidnapped and killed by Pablo Escobar's Medellin cartel in 1991. Uribe, a Harvard graduate, entered the Senate in 2022 after serving in Bogota's local government. In October 2024, he launched his presidential bid from the location where his mother was murdered, stating, "I could have grown up seeking revenge, but I decided to do the right thing: forgive, but never forget," CNN noted. The shooting has drawn widespread condemnation from both national and international leaders. The Democratic Center party called it "an unacceptable act of violence" that threatens democracy. President Petro's office called the attack a blow to "freedom of thought and legitimate political participation." Colombia's Defence Ministry has offered a reward of 3 billion pesos (USD 730,000) for information on those responsible. Four former Colombian presidents — Ernesto Samper, Alvaro Uribe Velez, Juan Manuel Santos, and Ivan Duque — also condemned the attack. Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa expressed solidarity with Uribe's family and denounced political violence. Uribe is part of a generation of Colombian leaders shaped by political assassinations in the late 1980s and 1990s. His Senate rival Maria Jose Pizarro is the daughter of former presidential candidate Carlos Pizarro Leongomez, who was killed in 1990.
