This Saturday, an attack shook Colombia and reignited fears of a past marked by political violence and drug trafficking.
This Saturday, June 7, 2025, an attack shook Colombia and reignited fears of a past marked by political violence and drug trafficking.
Senator and presidential pre-candidate for the Democratic Center party, Miguel Uribe Turbay, was shot in the head while attending a campaign event in the Fontibón district of Bogotá.
The incident, which left the politician in critical condition, has sparked a national debate about the country’s security and stability.
The Attack on Miguel Uribe.
According to multiple media reports, the attack occurred around 5:00 p.m. at El Golfito Park, in the Modelia neighborhood of Bogotá, during a political event organized by the Democratic Center. Uribe, 39, was shot multiple times from behind by an armed individual.
Reports vary on the number of bullets fired, with sources citing between two and six shots—at least one of them hitting the head or neck.
Videos shared on social media capture the moment of panic following the shooting, showing Uribe covered in blood as he was rushed to Clínica Colombia.
Authorities apprehended a suspected attacker, identified in some reports as a 15-year-old minor, while other sources mention two suspects being detained.
Bogotá Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán confirmed that the city’s hospital network was placed on high alert to treat the senator, whose condition remains critical according to the latest updates.
President Gustavo Petro’s government condemned the attack, calling it an assault on democracy and freedom of thought, and reiterated its commitment to protecting political leaders.
However, the opposition—including the Democratic Center—has pointed to this event as further evidence of the deterioration of public safety under Petro’s administration.
Who Is Miguel Uribe Turbay?
Born on January 28, 1986, in Bogotá, Miguel Uribe Turbay is a lawyer and politician of Lebanese descent, and a prominent member of the Democratic Center party, founded by former President Álvaro Uribe Vélez.
He comes from a family with deep political and journalistic roots—he is the grandson of former President Julio César Turbay (1978–1982) and Rodrigo Uribe Echavarría, a former director of the Liberal Party.
His mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was kidnapped and killed in 1991 by the narco-terrorist group Los Extraditables, led by Pablo Escobar—an event that profoundly shaped his life and political path.
Uribe began his political career as a Bogotá city councilman (2012–2015), became president of the council in 2014, and later served as Secretary of Government during Enrique Peñalosa’s mayoral term (2016–2018).
In 2019, he ran as an independent candidate for Mayor of Bogotá, receiving over 426,000 votes and finishing in fourth place. Since 2022, he has served as a senator, being the top vote-getter in his party with over 226,000 votes.
In March 2025, he announced his presidential pre-candidacy for the 2026 elections, running within the Democratic Center against figures like María Fernanda Cabal and Paloma Valencia.
Uribe has emerged as a key opposition leader against the Petro government, strongly criticizing policies such as the «Total Peace» initiative, which he claims grants impunity to armed groups like the ELN and FARC dissidents.
He has also denounced what he sees as institutional weakening, rising insecurity, and economic instability under the current administration.
His stance has made him a polarizing figure, facing attacks from pro-government sectors who, according to him, seek to undermine his presidential campaign.
A Climate of Rising Tension.
The attack on Uribe has triggered a wave of reactions, with sectors of the opposition comparing the current situation to the dark years of narco-violence under Pablo Escobar in the 1980s and 1990s.
This rhetoric links the rise in insecurity to Petro’s policies, with critics accusing him of being lenient with criminal groups and eroding state authority.
Uribe, for example, has stated that since Petro came to power in 2022, coca cultivation has grown from 200,000 to 300,000 hectares, and he has reported an increase in massacres, assassinations of social leaders, and attacks on public forces.
The Petro administration, meanwhile, has defended its «Total Peace» strategy as an effort to achieve reconciliation and reduce violence through dialogue with armed groups. Petro has also argued that his critics, including Uribe, exaggerate the security crisis in an attempt to delegitimize his presidency.
One flashpoint is the government’s decoration of former M-19 combatants alongside military personnel—an act Uribe called a “disgrace”—which highlights the deep ideological divide between the government and the opposition.
What Is Known About the Attack.
So far, information about the attack remains limited. Authorities have not fully clarified the motives or identified all those responsible. Witnesses say the attacker, possibly a minor, fired at point-blank range while Uribe was bidding farewell to attendees.
The senator’s security team returned fire, resulting in a shootout in which at least one other person was injured. The National Police have confirmed the arrest of a suspect but have not disclosed details regarding their identity or potential ties to criminal or political groups.
The Democratic Center and figures like former President Iván Duque have condemned the attack, demanding a thorough investigation.
Some opposition voices have implied—without evidence—that the Petro government could be connected to the attack, a claim the administration has categorically denied.
The lack of clarity over who is behind the attack is fueling speculation in a country with deeply entrenched political polarization.
A Family—and a Country—Scarred by Violence.
The case evokes the tragic history of Uribe’s family—his mother having been a victim of narco-violence in the 1990s—and reopens wounds about the impact of violence on Colombian politics.
As the country awaits news of the senator’s recovery, both the government and opposition have called for a rejection of violence and the strengthening of democratic institutions. However, mutual distrust between the two sides complicates efforts for constructive dialogue.
This attack on Miguel Uribe Turbay serves as a stark reminder of the challenges Colombia faces regarding security and social cohesion.
The persistence of political violence and the rise in criminal activity are troubling signs that demand a unified response.
The outcome of the investigation will be crucial in determining whether this was an isolated incident or a symptom of deeper issues within the country’s political and social fabric.
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