Bogota: Senator Miguel Uribe, a leading opposition candidate in Colombia’s 2026 presidential race, was shot during a campaign event in Bogota and is currently hospitalised in serious condition.
Uribe, 39, a prominent member of the conservative Democratic Centre party, was reportedly shot in the back while addressing allies in a public park in the Fontibón neighbourhood of the capital. According to a statement issued by his party, the attack was carried out by ‘armed subjects’ and has been described as ‘serious,’ though no further information on his current medical status has been revealed.
The Democratic Centre party, founded by former president Álvaro Uribe, strongly condemned the attack and demanded authorities to bring those responsible to justice. Colombian Defence Minister Pedro Sánchez confirmed that a suspect had been arrested and added that investigations were ongoing to decide whether additional individuals were involved. Sánchez also visited the hospital where Uribe is accepting treatment.
President Gustavo Petro expressed solidarity with Uribe’s family, posting on social media, stating that, “I don’t know how to ease your pain. It is the pain of a mother lost and of a homeland.”
The presidency also released an official statement strongly rejecting the violent act and calling for a full investigation. Miguel Uribe hails from a well-known political family with longstanding ties to Colombia’s Liberal Party. His mother, renowned journalist Diana Turbay, was kidnapped in 1990 by an armed group acting under the orders of drug lord Pablo Escobar and was tragically killed during a rescue operation.
The shooting has sent shockwaves through the nation, emphasising ongoing concerns over political violence and public security ahead of the 2026 elections.
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