Colombian senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay is in critical state due to being wounded in the head during an election rally at the Fontibon district in Bogota. The incident occurred on Saturday 8 June 2025 while Turbay was speaking to a large crowd of supporters.
Uribe was reported to have been hit two times in his head and one time at the thigh. He was taken into Santa Fe Foundation Hospital, in which he underwent emergency surgeries which included neurosurgery as well as blood vascular procedures. Doctors have said that his condition is dangerous.
The authorities confirmed that the teenager suspect was taken into custody at the scene, armed with the gun. The suspect is currently in police custody and detectives are trying to determine whether the shooting occurred as part of larger plan or was an isolated incident.
The president Gustavo Petro reacted swiftly, calling the incident “an attack on Colombian democracy.” Petro cancelled a planned trip abroad and directed police and intelligence services to respond immediately. The government has offered an $3 billion reward (about $730,000) for information that leads to a better understanding of the situation.
The assassination attempt has caused shock across the nation, with many making comparisons to Colombia’s darker historical past of political violence. Miguel Uribe Turbay is the grandson of former president Julio Cesar Turbay Ayala and the son of journalist Diana Turbay, who was killed in 1991 following a failed rescue attempt by kidnappers connected the drug cartels.
Political leaders across all parties have condemned the violence. Some have warned that the rising political tensions and a savage rhetoric could make the country unstable in the run-up to 2026’s elections.
Uribe was announcing his candidacy in January and was viewed as a growing conservative voice particularly in the younger demographic. The people who supported him said he was determined and uncompromising in his efforts to promote reforms and unity in the nation.
The security forces have been providing more protection of political figures as well as campaigns across the country.
