Colombian police have successfully arrested Élder José Arteaga Hernandez, the suspected mastermind behind the attempted assassination of senator Miguel Uribe during a rally in Bogotá last month. Uribe, a conservative senator vying for a nomination in the 2026 presidential election, was shot twice in the head on June 7th, leaving him in critical condition.
According to police, Arteaga is believed to have orchestrated the attack by hiring a 15-year-old shooter. This marks the latest development in a case that had already seen four arrests, including that of the teenager who remains charged with pulling the trigger. The motive behind the shooting is still unclear, and police chief Carlos Fernando Triana has revealed that Arteaga has a long criminal history linked to charges of "aggravated attempted homicide" and "use of minors for the commission of crimes."
Arteaga, known by his aliases Chipi and Costeño, was reportedly seen near the scene of the attack, and it's alleged he supplied the weapon used in the shooting. The teenage suspect was captured as he attempted to flee and has since pleaded not guilty, according to the prosecutor's office.
Senator Uribe is recognized as a vocal critic of President Gustavo Petro and comes from a prominent political family with deep ties to Colombia's Liberal Party. As a senator since 2022, Uribe's political journey has been marred by personal tragedy; his mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was murdered during a kidnapping incident involving the infamous Medellin drug cartel in 1991.
The shocking attack on Uribe has ignited mass protests across Colombia, with tens of thousands participating in silent demonstrations in response to the violence. Authorities continue to gather information regarding the motivations behind the attack as they investigate further.
