Subhechcha Ganguly 
Colombian presidential candidate and opposition senator Miguel Uribe Turbay was shot multiple times, including twice in the head and once in the knee, during a public campaign rally in Bogotá’s Fontibón neighborhood on Saturday. The 39-year-old was seen bloodied and being helped by bystanders in videos and images circulating widely on social media.
The attack, which took place during a speech, caused panic as gunfire rang out, reportedly from behind the stage. A suspected gunman has been arrested, while a minor allegedly involved was also detained and treated for a leg wound. Authorities recovered a firearm at the scene.
Uribe Turbay, a member of the conservative Democratic Centre party, is the son of a journalist who was kidnapped and murdered during Colombia’s violent 1990s. His current medical condition remains unconfirmed as of this report.
The assault has triggered strong condemnation across Latin America and beyond. Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who cancelled a planned visit to France, called for respect for life, describing it as “the red line.” Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe called the attack a strike against “the hope of the country.”
Chilean President Gabriel Boric and Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa also denounced the violence, reaffirming support for democracy. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Colombia to protect its officials and condemned the attempted assassination in the “strongest possible terms.”
In response, Colombia’s Defence Minister Pedro Sánchez has ordered an intensified investigation, mobilizing police, military, and intelligence services.
The motive behind the attack remains under investigation, as security is tightened ahead of Colombia’s presidential elections.
