ALBAWABA- A wave of shock and concern swept across Colombia on Saturday as Senator Miguel Uribe, a rising conservative figure and likely 2026 presidential candidate, was shot during a campaign gathering in Bogotá’s Fontibón district.
Uribe, 39, affiliated with the opposition Democratic Center party, founded by former President Álvaro Uribe, is now hospitalized in critical condition, according to his wife, María Claudia Tarazona, who shared that he is “fighting for his life” in a message posted to his X account.
Despite sharing a surname, the senator and the ex-president are not related.
The incident occurred as Uribe addressed supporters in a public park, when assailants reportedly approached from behind and opened fire, according to a party statement.
As reported by Reuters, bystander footage circulating on social media shows Uribe bleeding from the head and receiving immediate aid from attendees.
While the Democratic Center condemned the “serious attack,” it provided no specific update on the senator’s condition.
Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez confirmed that a suspect has been taken into custody and authorities are probing whether additional individuals were involved. He visited Uribe at the hospital and pledged full investigative support.
President Gustavo Petro resonated with Uribe’s family on X, expressing deep sorrow: “I don’t know how to ease your pain. It is the pain of a mother lost and a homeland.”
Later that evening, Petro revealed in a public address that the alleged shooter is a minor. He stressed that the investigation would now turn to uncovering who may have orchestrated the attack. “For now, all we have are hypotheses,” Petro said, also promising a review of the security measures in place at the event.
