Latest news with #MiguelUribe
Wall Street Journal
36 minutes ago
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
A Colombian Presidential Hopeful Fights For His Life After Assassination Attempt
BOGOTÁ, Colombia—Sen. Miguel Uribe, a presidential hopeful and grandson of a former president, was fighting for his life Sunday after a teenage gunman shot him in the head, reviving fears of the political violence that scarred Colombia in the 1980s and '90s. The conservative politician, 39, was finishing an event in a park Saturday afternoon during the long run-up to next year's presidential election. The assailant raised a handgun from behind and fired. Uribe crumpled to the ground, with supporters trying to stanch the bleeding from a head wound, videos from the scene showed.
CNA
an hour 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."
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Colombian presidential candidate Miguel Uribe, shot in head, remains in ‘most grave condition'
Colombian presidential candidate, Senator Miguel Uribe, who was shot twice in the head during a campaign rally in Bogota and rushed to the hospital, was said to be in a "grave condition" and "fighting for his life". The 39-year-old Uribe underwent successful initial surgery to treat the injuries from Saturday's assassination attempt. However, doctors warned that his condition was still serious, news agency AFP reported. Medics at Bogota's Santa Fe Clinic said, Uribe remains in "the most grave condition and the prognosis is reserved". The Senator's shooting left the entire nation in shock, for Colombia believed that its history of bloody political and narcotics violence was largely in the past. Meanwhile, several hundred of Colombians took to the streets with candles to pray for the recovery of Uribe. Carolina Gomez, a 41-year-old businesswoman, told AFP, "Our hearts are broken, Colombia hurts." The crowd gathered at several places across the nation chanted "strength to you Miguel" and "the people are with you". Uribe's wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, thanked Colombians for their support and requested them to collectively pray for his survival. "He is fighting hard for his life," she said. Miguel Uribe was shot in the El Golfito Park in the Modelia neighbourhood of Bogota's Fontibon district during a public gathering. Uriba, a right-wing opposition leader and a presidential candidate from the Democratic Center, was meeting supporters when a man allegedly approached from behind and shot him in the back of the head. Bogota Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán confirmed that Uribe's shooter had been captured. The motive for shooting the presidential candidate, however, is still unknown. Defense minister Pedro Sanchez said on Sunday that a team of about 100 investigators are now working to determine the motive behind the attack. Earlier, Sanchez had offered an approximately US$725,000 reward for information about who was behind the attack. The suspect, believed to be a 15-year-old boy, was injured during the scuffle with the forces and was receiving treatment, said police director Carlos Fernando Triana. Colombia's leftist President Gustavo Petro condemned the violence and said that it was "an attack not only against his person, but also against democracy, freedom of thought, and the legitimate exercise of politics in Colombia". US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also condemned the attacked and termed it a "direct threat to democracy". However, Rubio also blamed Petro and claimed that the attack was "the result of the violent leftist rhetoric coming from the highest levels of the Colombian government". "President Pedro needs to dial back the inflammatory rhetoric and protect Colombian officials," Rubio added.
Observer
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Observer
Colombian senator Uribe fighting for life after shooting
BOGOTA: Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe, a potential presidential contender, was fighting for his life in hospital after being shot during a campaign event in Bogota on Saturday, according to his wife and government and party authorities. 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 ordered 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 neighbourhood in the capital on Saturday, 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. Spain's government and that of neighbouring Venezuela issued statements on Sunday criticising the attack. "The Government of Spain strongly condemns the assassination attempt against Colombian senator and presidential pre-candidate Miguel Uribe, to whom it extends its solidarity and wishes for a speedy recovery," the Spanish Foreign Ministry posted on social media site X. Colombia's Defence 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 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. US 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. — Reuters
New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Colombian presidential candidate's condition 'grave' after assassination attempt
BOGOTA: 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. 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.
