Latest news with #MaríaClaudiaTarazona
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Shot Colombian presidential candidate needs ‘miracle' to survive, doctors say
Miguel Uribe Turbay, the rightwing Colombian presidential candidate who was shot at a campaign rally, has reportedly shown 'little response' to medical interventions and needs 'a miracle' to survive, doctors said on Monday. The update on his condition comes as a judge confirmed the arrest of the 15-year-old suspect, after the prosecutor's office submitted 129 videos, witness testimonies and the seizure of a pistol as evidence. Uribe is a 39-year-old senator from the opposition Centro Democrático party, and in the running to join next year's presidential race. Footage showed him speaking to a small crowd in a park on Saturday, before shots rang out. Uribe was then pictured slumped against the bonnet of a blood-stained white car. Authorities later confirmed he had been shot twice. Uribe underwent major surgery over the weekend, which was initially deemed a success, but early on Monday the hospital said he had shown 'little response to the medical interventions'. 'His condition is extremely serious,' medical director Adolfo Llinás Volpe said. His wife, María Claudia Tarazona, asked for prayers on Monday morning and said 'Miguel needs a miracle'. The 15-year-old suspect was arrested at the scene minutes after the attack, during which he reportedly shouted: 'I did it for money for my family.' Police on Monday revealed that the 9mm pistol the suspect was carrying had been purchased legally in Arizona in 2020. The suspect was also injured during the attack and so has yet to be questioned; a security cordon has been set up around the hospital where he is undergoing treatment. He is expected to be charged with attempted murder and illegal possession of a weapon. Uribe hails from one of Colombia's most prominent political families; he is the grandson of former president Julio César Turbay Ayala (1978-82) and the son of journalist Diana Turbay, who was kidnapped by Pablo Escobar's Medellín cartel and killed during a botched rescue operation in 1991. A Harvard graduate, former Bogotá city councillor and outspoken critic of president Gustavo Petro, Uribe last year announced his presidential bid from the spot where his mother was killed. 'I could have grown up seeking revenge, but I decided to do the right thing: forgive, but never forget,' he said. Petro condemned Saturday's attack and said 'we cannot rule out any hypothesis'. Criminal groups in Colombia have often used minors to carry out killings. Colombia's defence minister has offered a 3bn peso (£540,000) reward for information leading to the identification and capture of those responsible for the attack, while the government has ordered increased security for all presidential candidates.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Colombia senator 'fighting for his life,' wife says outside hospital, as protesters show support
The wife of the Colombian senator shot and wounded is asking for prayers for his recovery. "Miguel is still fighting for his life," said María Claudia Tarazona, wife of Sen. Miguel Uribe Turbay, on Sunday outside the hospital where he's being attended. (AP video by Marko Alvarez)
Yahoo
3 days 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
3 days 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
CBC
4 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Colombian presidential hopeful 'fighting for his life' after rally shooting, says wife
Colombian Sen. Miguel Uribe Turbay — a possible candidate in the country's presidential election next year — was shot and wounded at a campaign rally in Bogota on Saturday, authorities said. His conservative Democratic Centre party released a statement calling it "an unacceptable act of violence." The attack took place in a park in the Fontibon neighbourhood when armed assailants shot him from behind, said the right-wing Democratic Centre, which was the party of former President Alvaro Uribe. The men are not related. Images circulating on social media showed Uribe Turbay, 39, covered in blood being held by several people. A medical report from the Santa Fe Foundation hospital said the senator was admitted in critical condition and is undergoing a "neurosurgical and peripheral vascular procedure." "Miguel is fighting for his life," his wife, María Claudia Tarazona, wrote on the senator's X account, urging Colombians to pray for him. The attorney general's office, which is investigating the shooting, said the senator received two gunshot wounds in the attack, which wounded two other people. The statement from the office said a 15-year-old boy was arrested at the scene with a firearm. 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 cancelled a planned trip to France "due to the seriousness of the events," according to a presidential statement. Late Saturday night, after leading an extraordinary Security Council session, Colombia's first leftist president promised "complete transparency" in the investigation and to find the intellectual authors of the attack. He also promised an investigation into any failures by the senator's bodyguards. Presidential election to be held in May 2026 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 Petro's term. The senator announced his presidential bid in March. Colombian police chief Gen. Carlos Triana said that at the time of the attack Uribe Turbay was accompanied by Coun. 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 Defence Minister Pedro Sánchez. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X that the "United State condemns in the strongest possible terms the attempted assassination of Sen. Miguel Uribe," and he urged President 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. Reactions poured in from around Latin America, with Chilean President Gabriel Boric saying "there is no room or justification for violence in a democracy," and Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa saying "we condemn all forms of violence and intolerance."
