Colombian Presidential Candidate Shot Video at Campaign Rally

In a chilling act that has rocked Colombia’s political landscape, Senator Miguel Uribe, a leading figure of the center-right Democratic Center party and a declared candidate for the 2026 presidential election, was shot and critically injured during a campaign event in Bogotá. The incident has ignited national concern over the resurgence of political violence, a haunting echo of the country’s turbulent past.

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The Incident and Video

The assassination attempt took place on a Saturday afternoon in Bogotá’s Fontibon district. Uribe, 39, was addressing a crowd when multiple gunshots rang out, turning a public speech into a scene of chaos and panic. Video footage from the event shows Uribe collapsing as terrified onlookers fled in all directions. Quick-thinking civilians and police personnel rushed to his aid, and he was swiftly transported to Santa Fe de Bogotá Foundation hospital.

Close-Up: 3 Videos Capturing the Moment the Colombian Presidential Candidate Was Shot

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Authorities later confirmed that the shooter was a 15-year-old boy found carrying a Glock pistol. The youth was taken into custody on-site. The General Prosecutor’s Office is now working closely with law enforcement agencies to investigate who may have orchestrated the attack.

Critical Condition and Ongoing Medical Fight

Doctors at Santa Fe de Bogotá Foundation immediately conducted life-saving procedures, including neurosurgical and vascular interventions. Bogotá Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán announced that Uribe had survived the initial surgery and was in what doctors refer to as “critical hours” of recovery.

“He came out well from the surgery,” said Uribe’s wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, in an audio statement. “He fought the first battle and fought it well. He is fighting for his life.”

Though his condition remains extremely serious, hospital officials described it as stable, and doctors remain cautiously optimistic. Attorney General Luz Adriana Camargo confirmed the gravity of his condition in an interview with Caracol TV, saying, “Uribe’s condition is stable, still in critical condition.”

Waves of Political and Public Reaction

The response from Colombia’s political establishment was swift and unified. President Gustavo Petro gave a live televised address condemning the attack and pledging the full resources of the state to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“No resource should be spared, not a single peso or a single moment of energy, to find the mastermind wherever they live, whether in Colombia or abroad,” Petro declared.

The president also highlighted a disturbing trend of organized criminal groups exploiting minors to carry out violent acts. He speculated that the attack may have links to “crime bosses” who have orchestrated political assassinations in the past.

Petro urged Colombians to reject violence as a tool of political discourse, stating, “Politics must be free of violence.”

Colombian and International Condemnation

Reactions poured in from across the Colombian political spectrum. Uribe’s Democratic Center party issued a strong statement calling the attack “an unacceptable act of violence” and an assault on Colombian democracy. “We strongly reject this attack, which not only endangers the life of a political leader but also threatens democracy and freedom in Colombia,” the party stated.

Former Colombian presidents Ernesto Samper, Álvaro Uribe Vélez, Juan Manuel Santos, and Iván Duque representing a wide ideological range joined the chorus of condemnation. Uribe Vélez and Duque, both affiliated with the Democratic Center, expressed particular dismay.

The international community also responded with concern. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio denounced the attack “in the strongest possible terms,” calling it “a direct threat to democracy.” Rubio criticized what he called “violent leftist rhetoric coming from the highest levels of the Colombian government” and urged de-escalation. In turn, President Petro pushed back against what he described as “opportunistic” attempts to politicize the tragedy.

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa also issued a statement expressing solidarity with Uribe’s family and denouncing “all forms of violence and intolerance.”

Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez Suárez announced a reward of 3 billion pesos (approximately $730,000) for information leading to those responsible for orchestrating the attack.

The Man Behind the Campaign: Miguel Uribe’s Political and Personal Legacy

Miguel Uribe is no ordinary senator. He comes from a lineage that is deeply entrenched in Colombian political history and tragedy. He is the grandson of former President Julio César Turbay Ayala, who served from 1978 to 1982. His mother, Diana Turbay, was a respected journalist who was kidnapped and murdered by the Medellín cartel under the orders of Pablo Escobar in 1991.

His grandmother, Nydia Quintero de Balcázar, is the founder of Solidarity for Colombia, a nonprofit organization focused on humanitarian causes.

A Harvard graduate, Uribe entered national politics in 2022 after holding positions in Bogotá’s municipal government. Known for championing foreign investment and national security, he quickly emerged as a rising star in right-wing politics.

In a poignant moment in October 2024, he announced his presidential candidacy at the very location where his mother was murdered. “I could have grown up seeking revenge, but I decided to do the right thing: forgive, but never forget,” Uribe said at the time, a statement that won him both admiration and sympathy across Colombia.

A Nation Haunted by Political Violence

The attack on Uribe evokes painful memories for many Colombians. The country endured a wave of political violence during the 1980s and 1990s, with several presidential candidates assassinated. Uribe’s mother was among those lost during that era, as were other prominent figures like Luis Carlos Galán and Carlos Pizarro Leongómez.

Ironically, today’s generation of political leaders includes many descendants of those victims. Bogotá Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán is the son of Luis Carlos Galán, and Senator María José Pizarro is the daughter of Carlos Pizarro Leongómez. Together with Uribe, they represent a new wave of politicians shaped by the trauma of Colombia’s violent past, committed to building a more democratic and just future.

Yet the shooting serves as a stark reminder that the specter of political violence still looms large. The involvement of a minor as the gunman highlights an alarming trend: organized crime groups recruiting children for targeted attacks a tactic that complicates both law enforcement and public accountability.

What Lies Ahead: A Fragile Political Future

As the 2026 presidential race looms, the future of Miguel Uribe’s candidacy remains uncertain. The Democratic Center party has yet to formally announce its candidate, and Uribe’s health crisis may significantly alter the party’s internal dynamics and public support.

Security will undoubtedly be a central issue in the campaign. Politicians across the spectrum are already calling for enhanced protection measures at public events. Meanwhile, the attack has sparked national discussions about the boundaries of political rhetoric and the responsibility of leaders to maintain civil discourse.

The government has promised a thorough and independent investigation into the attack, particularly to identify its intellectual authors those who may have ordered or financed the attempt on Uribe’s life.

The attempted assassination of Senator Miguel Uribe is not just an act of violence against one man it is a symbolic attack on Colombia’s fragile democracy. As Uribe clings to life in a hospital bed, the nation is forced to confront the lingering shadows of its past and the challenges that lie ahead.

The hope is that this moment becomes a turning point one that reinforces the country’s commitment to peaceful political engagement, justice, and national reconciliation. Whether or not Uribe survives, his story has already etched itself into Colombia’s modern history, standing as both a warning and a call to unity.

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