Miguel Uribe Turbay, a conservative opposition candidate who declared his candidacy for the presidential election in Colombia, was shot on the campaign trail on the 7th (local time). Reports indicate that the first surgery was successfully completed.
According to reports, Senator Uribe Turbay was shot while delivering a speech in a park in downtown Bogotá. It is reported that he sustained three gunshot wounds: two to the head and one to the knee.
Senator Uribe Turbay was later transferred to a nearby hospital for surgery. Carlos Fernando Galán, the Bogotá Mayor, told the media, "He has successfully overcome the first surgery," and explained, "He has entered a significant period of recovery."
Colombian authorities have arrested one suspect believed to be around 15 years old. The suspect was also injured during the shooting and is receiving treatment, and the specific motive for the crime has not yet been revealed.
Pedro Sánchez, the Minister of National Defense of Colombia, noted that there may be more accomplices and investigations are ongoing. He also announced a reward of $725,000 (about 980 million won) for information leading to the perpetrators behind the shooting.
Senator Uribe Turbay is affiliated with the conservative center Democratic Party led by former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe. He has declared his candidacy for the Colombian presidential election taking place in 2026. He has criticized leftist President Gustavo Petro and the ruling party.
Uribe Turbay's mother, Diana Turbay, is well known as a journalist who was kidnapped and killed by the drug cartel led by "Drug King" Pablo Escobar in the 1990s.