A 15-year-old hitman shot Colombian senator and presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe Turbay in the head during a campaign rally in Bogotá, leaving him fighting for his life after emergency surgery as the nation reels from its first high-profile political assassination attempt in decades.
Key Takeaways
- Colombian senator and presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe Turbay was shot in the head by a teenage hitman during a campaign rally in Bogotá and remains in critical condition after surgery.
- The assassination attempt marks the first high-profile attack on a Colombian politician in decades, raising fears of a return to the country’s violent political past.
- The attack has intensified political polarization in Colombia, with critics blaming leftist President Gustavo Petro for deteriorating security conditions.
- Police quickly apprehended the 15-year-old paid assassin, and the Ministry of Defense has offered a reward for information about who ordered the attack.
- The incident has prompted urgent calls for increased protection of presidential candidates as Colombia’s political climate deteriorates.
Shocking Attack Rocks Colombian Politics
The assassination attempt on Miguel Uribe Turbay, a far-right politician and presidential hopeful, has sent shockwaves through Colombia and raised serious concerns about the country’s political stability. Uribe, who is not related to but is a protégé of controversial former president Álvaro Uribe, was giving a speech at a campaign rally when the teenage assassin opened fire, striking him in the head. The attack was captured on video, showing the moment of panic as security personnel rushed to protect the wounded candidate. Medical teams immediately transported Uribe to a nearby hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery.
The incident represents a disturbing return to political violence in a country that has worked for decades to move beyond its bloody history of assassinations and terrorism. The attack eerily resembles the 1989 assassination of presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galán, which occurred during a similarly turbulent period in Colombian politics. As Uribe fights for his life in the hospital, thousands of supporters have gathered outside, holding vigils and demanding justice, while protests have erupted across the country in response to the shooting.
Teenage Hitman and Investigation
In a disturbing development, authorities revealed that the shooter was merely 15 years old and had been hired as a hitman to carry out the assassination. Police apprehended the teenager shortly after the attack, but questions remain about who ordered the hit and their motivations. Colombia’s intelligence services are investigating potential connections to organized crime, political rivals, or rebel groups that have long operated in the country. The Ministry of Defense has offered a substantial reward for information that could help identify the masterminds behind this brazen attack.
“Whoever ordered this assassination… very clearly had the intention of throwing gas onto a fire, trying to be incendiary in an electoral context that is already deeply polarized,” Said Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group.
The use of a teenage assassin highlights a disturbing trend in Colombia where criminal organizations recruit minors to commit serious crimes, taking advantage of the more lenient juvenile justice system. This tactic has been employed by various criminal groups throughout Colombia’s conflict-ridden history, but its use in a high-profile political assassination attempt marks a dangerous escalation. President Petro has ordered a thorough investigation, though many conservatives remain skeptical of his administration’s commitment to solving the case.
Political Fallout and Security Concerns
The attack has intensified political divisions in an already polarized Colombia. Many conservative leaders are directly blaming leftist President Gustavo Petro’s policies for creating an environment where political violence can flourish. Critics point to Petro’s conciliatory approach toward various armed groups and his scaling back of military operations as factors contributing to deteriorating security conditions throughout the country. The timing of the attack, coming months before presidential elections, raises serious questions about the safety of political candidates and the integrity of the democratic process.
“At this moment, Miguel is fighting for his life. We ask God to guide the hands of the doctors treating him,” Said Maria Claudia Tarazona, Uribe’s wife, in an emotional statement outside the hospital.
Political analysts warn that this assassination attempt could significantly alter the political landscape in Colombia. Uribe represented a hardline approach to security issues and had been gaining traction among voters concerned about rising crime and violence. Security analyst Sergio Guzmán noted the broader implications, saying, “Evidently this [attack] shows an erosion of Colombia’s security and political climate in the short term.” Multiple presidential candidates have demanded increased security details, and international observers are watching closely as Colombia faces its most serious political crisis in years.
