Colombian senator Miguel Uribe Turbay is fighting for his life after being shot in the head ten days ago during a public event in Bogotá. Doctors have reported that his condition is "extremely critical" and following an emergency surgery on Monday to address a brain hemorrhage, his wife, María Claudia Tarazona, implored the public for prayers during this critical time.
The incident, which occurred on June 7, has sent shockwaves through Colombian society, prompting thousands to participate in silent protests around the country on Sunday. In her statements outside Santa Fe hospital, Tarazona emphasized the importance of collective support, stating, "We need all the prayers and words of love. It's love that is keeping him alive."
The 39-year-old senator, who was a contender for the 2026 presidential election, was shot three times while speaking in a middle-class neighborhood of Bogotá. A 15-year-old suspect has been apprehended and charged with attempted murder, though he has pleaded not guilty. Alongside him, investigators have also detained an individual accused of supplying the firearm and another suspected of logistical support for the attack.
The motives behind this brazen daylight attack remain unclear, with authorities continuing their inquiry into who might have orchestrated it. The violence recalls a dark period in Colombia's history, reminiscent of the political assassinations of the 1980s and 90s when many prominent figures were targeted.
Miguel Uribe Turbay is personally connected to this turbulent past; his mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was a victim of kidnapping and later killed by Los Extraditables—a notorious group of drug lords—during a failed rescue attempt in 1990. Uribe has often cited his mother's legacy as inspiration for his political ambitions, aiming to advocate for change in Colombia.
