Local sources from Colombia: Infobae, EL PAÍS.
UK coverage: Financial Times.
In a shocking incident that has gripped Colombia and drawn international concern, Senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay was subjected to an assassination attempt on the afternoon of June 7 in Fontibón. The attack, which occurred during a campaign event, left the senator critically injured, with Uribe fighting for his life after being shot three times, including once in the head. The gravity of the situation was underscored by the immediate medical response, which saw Uribe undergo two complex surgeries at the Fundación Santa Fe. Despite the efforts of the medical team, his condition remains critical, casting a pall over the nation’s political landscape. In response to the heinous act, Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez took to the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to announce a substantial reward of up to 3,000 million pesos for information leading to the arrest of those responsible. A teenager has been arrested in connection with the attack, believed to have been manipulated into carrying out the violent act against Uribe. The incident has not only sent shockwaves through Colombia but also prompted a nationwide conversation on the state of political violence and the importance of safeguarding democratic values. In the wake of the assassination attempt, Bogotá Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán called on President Gustavo Petro to eschew hate speech and urged for a collective effort amongst leaders to prevent further violence. Galán’s call to action, shared on X, places a spotlight on the dangerous levels of polarization within the country and the critical role that political discourse plays in either fostering unity or sowing division. As the investigation unfolds, with charges of attempted murder and illegal possession of weapons being prepared against the suspected assailant, Colombia stands at a crossroads, grappling with the challenge of navigating its political future without succumbing to the destructive forces of hatred and violence. This incident has underscored the urgent need for a national dialogue on political responsibility and the preservation of peace, highlighting the fragility of the democratic process in the face of such threats. As the country rallies around Senator Uribe and his family, the coming days will undoubtedly be crucial in shaping Colombia’s response to this attack and its implications for the nation’s political and social fabric.
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