Colombian presidential candidate ‘fighting for life’ after being shot in the head
A Colombian presidential hopeful is fighting for his life after being shot at a campaign rally.
A 15-year-old boy has been arrested following the assassination attempt on Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay, 39, in the Fontibon neighbourhood of Bogota yesterday.
His wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, wrote on X that her husband remains in a critical condition.
She said: ‘Miguel is fighting for his life at the moment.
‘We pray to God to assist the hands of the doctors who are attending to him. I ask that we all come together in a prayer of support for Miguel’s life.
‘I place my faith in God.’
Pictures shared on social media showed Senator Uribe covered in blood before being rushed to the hospital in an ambulance.
A medical report said the politician remained in a ‘critical’ condition and is undergoing a ‘neurosurgical and peripheral vascular procedure’ at the Fundacion Santa Fe hospital.
President Petro Gustavo cancelled a planned visit to France due to the ‘seriousness of the events’ and said respect for life was a ‘red line’.
He said: ‘I hope that Miguel Uribe Turbay survives, that’s what I want first and foremost, and that society should feel, before anything else, and that we should join our hearts and energy to help him get well.’
The country’s first leftist head of state promised a ‘transparent’ investigation focusing on identifying those who ordered the attack, as the government offered a £540,000 reward for information.
Senator Uribe Turbay was intending to run for the right wing Democratic Centre Party in next year’s presidential elections scheduled for May 31.
His mother, a journalist, was murdered in 1991 during one of the nation’s most turbulent periods.
The mayor of Bogota, Carlos Fernando Galán, said he condemned what he called an affront on democracy and called on the authorities to identify those responsible as soon as possible.
He told reporters that these were ‘critical’ moments for the senator and his family.
‘We must increase protection to those who are participating in these [campaigning] activities. We also call for protection to his family to guarantee their security at this time.’
He added: ‘We must be capable as a country to reject not just violence but also language that can eventually lead to hatred.’
Colombia’s defence minister Pedro Sanchez said: ‘I have ordered the Colombian military and police forces and intelligence agencies to deploy all their capabilities to urgently clarify the facts.’
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the ‘violent leftist rhetoric’ behind the assassination attempt.
He wrote: ‘Having seen firsthand Colombia’s progress over the past few decades to consolidate security and democracy, it can’t afford to go back to dark days of political violence. President Petro needs to dial back the inflammatory rhetoric and protect Colombian officials.
‘We stand in prayer with Miguel’s family, loved ones, and his supporters. Those responsible for this attack must face justice.’
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