Shooting of Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay – On Saturday, June 7, 2025, Colombian Senator and potential presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay was shot during a campaign event in Bogotá. The attack occurred in El Golfito Park, Modelia, where Uribe Turbay was engaging with supporters as part of his ongoing campaign for the 2026 Colombian presidential election. The assailants fired multiple shots at the senator from behind, with early reports suggesting that some of the shots may have struck him in the head.The attack took place in the afternoon, during a routine campaign rally in one of Bogotá’s busy parks. While Uribe Turbay was speaking with members of the public, armed assailants targeted him from behind, firing several rounds. The senator was reportedly struck multiple times. Initial reports suggest that the gunshots may have hit him in the head, and according to his wife, he is currently in critical condition and undergoing emergency surgery. She expressed that he is “fighting for his life” in the aftermath of the brutal assault.
Following the shooting, police were able to arrest a 15-year-old youth at the scene. Authorities are currently investigating whether there were any accomplices involved in the attack, as well as the possible motive behind the shooting. The Colombian government has moved swiftly, offering a reward of up to 3 billion Colombian pesos (approximately $730,000) for information leading to the identification and capture of the remaining perpetrators.Miguel Uribe Turbay is a prominent member of the opposition conservative Democratic Center party. The senator is a well-known figure in Colombian politics, being the grandson of Julio Cesar Turbay Ayala, a former president of Colombia (1978-1982). Although not related to former President Álvaro Uribe, the senator has been a rising star in Colombian politics and has garnered attention as a potential candidate for the presidency in the 2026 elections.
His personal life has also been marked by tragedy. His mother, Diana Turbay, was a journalist and a victim of kidnapping by the infamous Medellín Cartel in 1991. She was killed during a rescue operation led by the Colombian government. This traumatic loss has shaped Uribe Turbay’s political career and personal outlook on Colombian governance and security.The attack on Uribe Turbay has sent shockwaves through Colombia’s political landscape and has garnered widespread condemnation from political leaders both within and outside the country. Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the shooting, stating that it was not only a violation of the senator’s personal integrity but also an assault on the nation’s democracy. He called for a swift and thorough investigation into the attack, specifically seeking to identify those responsible for ordering it.
The Democratic Center party, to which Uribe Turbay belongs, has also strongly condemned the attack, labeling it an “unacceptable act of violence.” Party members have called for increased protection for political candidates and demanded greater accountability from the government to ensure the safety of all political figures.
International reactions have been swift as well. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the attack, describing it as an “attempted assassination” and linking it to the rhetoric of President Petro. Rubio accused Petro’s administration of inflaming political tensions, which, according to him, may have contributed to the violence.The shooting of Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay is a tragic and alarming event that highlights the ongoing risks faced by political leaders in Colombia. While the motives behind the attack remain unclear, the violence has stirred political and international debate about the security of candidates and the broader state of democracy in Colombia. As investigations continue, many are calling for increased efforts to safeguard political freedom and ensure that such attacks do not undermine the country’s electoral processes. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether this act of violence is part of a larger pattern or an isolated incident.
