Background on Miguel Uribe
Miguel Uribe, a 39-year-old senator and aspiring presidential candidate in Colombia, was shot three times during a public event in Bogotá on Saturday. Among the bullets, two struck his head, according to paramedics who treated him. Uribe underwent his first surgery but remains in a state of “maximum gravity,” as reported by the clinic treating him.
Current Condition and Support
Uribe was admitted to the clinic in a critical condition and underwent surgery overnight Sunday. Bogotá’s mayor, Carlos Fernando Galán, stated that Uribe is in “critical hours” of recovery to ensure his survival. The medical facility issued a statement saying that Uribe is in intensive care to ensure postoperative stabilization. “His condition is of maximum gravity, and the prognosis is reserved,” they added.
Suspect and Investigation
A 15-year-old boy was apprehended as a suspect, though the intellectual authors of the attack remain unknown. No public threats against Uribe, a strong critic of Colombia’s left-wing and drug traffickers operating in the country, were known before the incident.
Public Reaction and Protests
On Sunday, hundreds of people protested in several cities wearing white shirts and Colombian flags. Outside the clinic in Bogotá, dozens chanted “Strength, Miguel” and “Miguel, friend, Colombia is with you.”
Investigation and Security Measures
More than 100 Colombian police investigators are working to uncover the motives behind the attack on Uribe, according to Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez. President Gustavo Petro called for a thorough investigation, starting with Uribe’s security team, as “all hypotheses are open.”
The teenage suspect was injured in the leg during a shootout with Uribe’s security detail. He is currently hospitalized and in “very favorable” condition, according to the minister, who believes the minor was “instrumentalized” by criminals to carry out the assault.
A video circulating on social media shows a young man, seen from behind, unholstering a weapon. Uribe falls after reportedly receiving a headshot. Other images depict him lying on a vehicle, his bloody body supported by a group of men.
Uribe’s Political Background and Controversy
In October, Uribe announced his intention to run for president in 2026, succeeding Gustavo Petro. Although the presidential campaign has not yet begun, several politicians have already started their rallies. Uribe belongs to a prominent political family; he has been a senator since 2022, previously serving as Bogotá’s Secretary of Government and city council member. He also ran for mayor in 2019 but lost the election.
His mother, Diana Turbay, was a well-known journalist who was kidnapped by drug lord Pablo Escobar through deception. Tragically, she died during a military rescue operation in 1991.
International Reactions and U.S.-Colombia Tensions
Various international organizations, including the UN and regional/European countries, condemned the attack. The U.S. Department of State, an ally of Colombia in the fight against drug trafficking, attributed the attack to “violent leftist rhetoric” and urged Petro to “moderate his fiery discourse.”
This message, issued by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, marks another chapter in the ongoing dispute between the U.S. government and Petro, who has called such accusations “opportunistic.”
Petro emphasized in a speech that ensuring the assailant’s safety is paramount to prevent his murder and subsequent failure to reveal accomplices.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Miguel Uribe? Miguel Uribe is a 39-year-old Colombian senator and aspiring presidential candidate.
- What happened to him? Uribe was shot three times, including two shots to the head, during a public event in Bogotá.
- What is his current condition? Uribe underwent surgery and remains in a state of “maximum gravity” with a reserved prognosis.
- Who is the suspect? A 15-year-old boy was apprehended as a suspect, though the intellectual authors remain unknown.
- What is the public reaction? Hundreds protested in several cities, expressing support for Uribe outside the clinic in Bogotá.
- What is the investigation status? Over 100 Colombian police investigators are working to determine the attack’s motives.
- What is the relationship between Uribe and Petro? Uribe is a prominent critic of Petro and the Colombian left-wing.
- How did the U.S. respond? The U.S. Department of State attributed the attack to “violent leftist rhetoric” and urged Petro to moderate his discourse.
