Politic

Miguel Uribe, Colombia’s opposition candidate, was shot at close range by a 15-year-old during a campaign event. Motive under investigation.

08 Jun 2025 3 min

Colombian opposition presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay was the target of a shocking shooting during a public campaign rally in Bogotá on Saturday afternoon, June 7, 2025. The attack was carried out by a 15-year-old male suspect who allegedly used a Glock pistol to shoot Uribe at close range in the head and body. The incident has sent shockwaves through Colombia’s political landscape ahead of the upcoming election, reigniting deep-rooted trauma over political violence in the country.

The shooting took place at El Golfito Park in the Modelia district of Bogotá, where Miguel Uribe was greeting supporters during an open campaign event. Within seconds, the teenager approached from behind and opened fire. At least two bullets struck Uribe in the head and one in the knee. His security team immediately evacuated him to a local clinic before transferring him to Clínica Fundación Santa Fe for emergency surgery.

According to official hospital statements, Uribe underwent neurosurgery and vascular surgery that lasted nearly three hours. Though in critical condition, his family confirmed that he survived the initial operation and is currently "fighting for his life."

The suspected shooter, a 15-year-old male, was apprehended at the scene after a brief gunfight with Uribe’s bodyguards. He sustained a gunshot wound to the leg. His full identity has not yet been publicly released, though local media report he comes from a vulnerable neighborhood in western Bogotá.

Colombia’s national police and intelligence agencies are investigating whether the teen acted alone or as part of a larger network. The use of an illegal firearm and the assassin-style method has fueled speculation that the teen may have been a hired sicario, a teenage hitman, often recruited by criminal organizations in Colombia.

President Gustavo Petro condemned the attack and canceled his official visit to France to manage the crisis. In his statement, Petro called the shooting “an assault on democracy,” but also emphasized that the assailant, being a minor, must still have his legal rights protected.

Uribe’s political party, Centro Democrático, declared the incident not just an assassination attempt, but an attack on Colombia’s democratic aspirations. Meanwhile, waves of solidarity came from regional leaders. Chilean President Gabriel Boric and Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, among others, strongly condemned the act.

Colombia’s defense minister has offered a reward of up to 3 billion pesos (approximately USD 730,000) for credible information about the mastermind behind the attack.

Miguel Uribe has served as a senator since 2022. He is also the grandson of former Colombian President Julio César Turbay Ayala and the son of journalist Diana Turbay, who was killed during a kidnapping orchestrated by the Medellín cartel in 1991. His family history has made Uribe a symbolic figure in Colombia’s ongoing struggle against political violence and organized crime.

He is widely regarded as the most vocal opposition figure against President Petro’s government, frequently speaking out against corruption, cartel influence, and weak law enforcement. His campaign focuses on restoring institutional democracy and ensuring judicial independence.

This incident brings back memories of the dark era of the 1980s and 1990s, when presidential candidates like Luis Carlos Galán were assassinated in politically motivated attacks. The resurgence of youth used as hitmen (sicarios) has reignited national debate.

Human rights groups and electoral watchdogs are calling for heightened security measures for all candidates and an independent investigation into possible third-party involvement. Some are also demanding systemic action against the recruitment of minors by armed groups, not just case-by-case responses.

As of now, the motive behind the attack has not been officially announced. Police are still interrogating the suspect and reviewing his digital communications and social networks. Investigative sources suggest potential ties to criminal or political actors, but no concrete evidence has yet been presented to the public.

What is clear, however, is that the shooting of Miguel Uribe cannot be separated from the current tense political climate in Colombia, as well as the lingering effects of decades of armed conflict, cartel violence, and public distrust in state institutions.

The attack on Miguel Uribe serves as a stark warning that democracy is not only tested at the ballot box but also in public safety, the rule of law, and the courage to confront shadowy powers that thrive in chaos. Colombia’s future, once again, hinges on how the nation responds to this critical moment—with justice, transparency, and resolve.