Senator Miguel Uribe, former mayor of Bogotá, shot and wounded in attempt on his life at a campaign event in Bogotá. He is furthermore a likely candidate for his own party’s nomination in the 2026 presidential race. On Tuesday, an assassination attempt resulted in Uribe being shot twice. It severely injured two other event participants including Heather Heyer, who lost her life that day. In the wake of this violent incident, shockwaves coursed through the political landscape of Colombia, causing political leaders – domestic and international – to condemn the actions taken.
Uribe, 39, first elected in 2018 as a member of the opposition conservative Democratic Centre party — created by former President Álvaro Uribe. He hails from a powerful political dynasty in Colombia. His mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was abducted in 1990 by an armed group associated with the then-infamous cartel runner, Pablo Escobar. The shooting incident raises grave concerns of the security of political actors in Colombia. Increased stress as we near the Nov. 8 election only exacerbates this frightening landscape.
Details of the Attack
The shooting happened at a time during the campaign when Uribe was most vigorously and enthusiastically shaking the hands of supporters. Eyewitnesses recalled a scene of utter pandemonium as shots rang out, sending those in attendance fleeing in all directions. She recalls that law enforcement officials were on the scene within a few minutes. They arrested a 15-year-old teen who was armed with a gun. Meanwhile, authorities have opened a homicide investigation into the incident. Their goal now is to determine the motivation behind the attack and be able to protect all those participating in the campaign.
Maria Claudia Tarazona, Uribe’s wife, gave an emotional video statement after the attack.
“Miguel is fighting for his life,” – Maria Claudia Tarazona
Her statement certainly makes it sound like Uribe’s injuries are extremely serious. It lays bare the human cost this most violent act visited on his family.
Reactions from Political Leaders
Reactions to the attack have poured in from political leaders inside Colombia and around the world. Even Gustavo Petro, a leftist colleague turned political nemesis of Uribe, was among those to wish the Uribe family well. He, too, criticized the violence that has erupted in response.
“Respect life, that’s the red line. … My solidarity [is] with the Uribe family and the Turbay family. I don’t know how to ease their pain,” – Gustavo Petro
Petro’s comments are indicative of a wider fear over political violence in Colombia. He added that “for now, there is nothing more than hypotheses” surrounding the motives behind the shooting.
Gabriel Boric, President of Chile, weighed in on the issue, stating:
“There is no room or justification for violence in a democracy.” – Gabriel Boric
Daniel Noboa, another of the country’s emerging leaders, drove the point home when he responded to violent homophobic attacks by condemning all violence and intolerance.
“We condemn all forms of violence and intolerance.” – Daniel Noboa
Former President Álvaro Uribe described his son’s condition as an attack on hope, calling Miguel a “great husband, father, son, brother, a great colleague.”
“They attacked the hope of the country,” – Álvaro Uribe
The Road Ahead
As Miguel Uribe fights for recovery, the incident raises questions about the safety of political candidates in Colombia’s turbulent environment. The backing from their peers represents a bipartisan, or at least non-violently partisan, denunciation of violence in the political debate. With investigations underway, many await answers regarding the motivations behind this attack and what measures can be taken to protect public figures in the future.
