Colombian Presidential Candidate Shot in the Head at Campaign Rally
A shocking assassination attempt was made on Colombian presidential candidate, Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay, at a campaign rally in the capital city of Bogotá on Saturday. According to reports from the Daily Mail, Uribe Turbay was shot in the head and neck while addressing a group of around 250 residents in the Fontibon neighborhood.
The Daily Mail reported that two shooters, including a 15-year-old boy, opened fire on the lawmaker, who was rushed to a nearby clinic and later transferred to Fundación Santa Fe Hospital, where he is currently listed in critical condition. The National Police have confirmed that the teenager was apprehended at the scene and is being treated for a leg injury.
Eyewitness footage showed Uribe Turbay addressing the crowd on how he would handle the mental health crisis when he suddenly crashed to the ground as three shots were fired. At least four more shots followed as the shocked crowd dispersed. A separate video showed three men holding the presidential hopeful and applying pressure to the wound on his neck and head while a multitude of people screamed and cried for help.
The Daily Mail obtained a surveillance video that showed the teen suspect racing out of the park and running down a street as Uribe Turbay’s bodyguards chased after him. Another video showed the teenager hobbling towards a gated residential complex and then turning around to aim his gun at the guards.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the attack, stating, "Respect life, that’s the red line." He canceled a planned trip to France "due to the seriousness of the events," according to a presidential statement. The National Government also released a statement, categorically and forcefully rejecting the attack, which they described as "an unacceptable act of violence."
The Daily Mail reported that Uribe Turbay’s conservative Democratic Center party released a statement calling the attack "an unacceptable act of violence." Former President Alvaro Uribe, who founded the right-wing party and is not related to Uribe Turbay, denounced the shooting, stating, "They attacked a hope for the nation, a great husband, father, son, brother, a great colleague."
Colombian police chief General Carlos Triana confirmed that Uribe Turbay was accompanied by Councilman Andrés Barrios and 20 other people at the time of the attack. The federal government has offered a reward of around $729,000 for the capture of those responsible. Uribe Turbay is the son of journalist Diana Turbay, who was kidnapped and killed in 1991 during one of Colombia’s most violent periods.
Colombia is set to hold a presidential election on May 31, 2026, and Uribe Turbay announced his presidential bid in March. The Daily Mail will continue to provide updates on this developing story as more information becomes available.
In response to the attack, Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez stated, "I have ordered the Colombian military and police forces and intelligence agencies to deploy all their capabilities to urgently clarify the facts." The incident has raised concerns about the security of presidential candidates in Colombia and the increasing violence in the country.
Uribe Turbay’s condition remains critical, and the nation holds its breath as it waits for updates on his recovery. The attempted assassination has sparked widespread condemnation, and authorities are working to determine the motives behind the attack and to bring those responsible to justice.
