A potential presidential candidate in Colombia is in a severe condition after being shot at a campaign event in Bogota on Saturday. Miguel Uribe Turbay, a senator, was reportedly hit in the head or back, according to initial reports from the AFP news agency.
Local media indicated that a suspected teenager was apprehended at the scene of the incident. Turbay’s wife, María Claudia Tarazona, posted on his X account, urging the public to pray for him as he fights for his life.
Turbay is the grandson of Julio Cesar Turbay Ayala, who served as President of Colombia from 1978 to 1982. He is unrelated to former conservative President Álvaro Uribe, who led the country from 2002 to 2010.
The attack took place at a park in the Fontibon district, as confirmed by Turbay’s right-wing Democratic Center party. Online media shared images and videos of the incident, showing people fleeing and Turbay, aged 39, bleeding and being aided by others. He was subsequently airlifted to the Santa Fe Foundation hospital for a neurosurgical and peripheral vascular procedure.
Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez promised to use all available resources to investigate possible additional individuals involved in the shooting and offered a reward of up to 3 billion Colombian pesos ($730,000) for information that leads to the capture of the attackers.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro canceled his trip to France, stating that respect for life is a “red line” in reference to the incident. The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, condemned the shooting as a “direct threat to democracy” and urged President Petro “to dial back the inflammatory rhetoric and protect Colombian officials.”
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/miguel-uribe-colombian-presidential-hopeful-shot-in-bogota/a-72833290?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
