Colombian presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe Turbay, who was shot in the head during a rally, continues to remain in serious condition, Bogota Mayor Carlos Fernando said on Sunday.
Senator Turbay was attacked by ‘armed suspects’ during his rally in a park in the capital city’s Fontibon neighbourhood.
Videos showed assailants shooting several shots at Turbay’s head from behind, causing the Senator to collapse afterwards. He was eventually airlifted to Santa Fe Foundation Hospital and remains there in the intensive care unit.
A 15-year-old boy was arrested at the rally for possession of a firearm, with the Attorney General’s Office investigating the incident. The boy was found around the park where the incident took place, allegedly with a “9mm Glock-type firearm,” according to local police reports.
His party, the Democratic Centre Party, has condemned the attack and called it a threat to "democracy and freedom in Colombia."
Leftist President Gustavo Petro expressed his sympathy while also stating that the investigation would focus on who had planned and ordered the attack.
Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez, on behalf of the government, has further announced a $730,000 reward for any information related to the case.
Messages and reactions were seen pouring in from around the world in the aftermath of the shooting. The US stated that it “condemns in the strongest possible terms the attempted assassination," and implied that this was a manifestation of a "violent leftist rhetoric coming from the highest levels of the Colombian government."
Other Latin American leaders, including the Presidents of Chile and Ecuador, both condemned the violence and expressed their intolerance for such an act.
The attack comes in the aftermath of a tense political period in Colombia, when President Petro was seeking popular backing for a series of reforms which were heavily contested by the opposition, including Uribe.
While Miguel Uribe Turbay’s candidature for the upcoming elections is not confirmed, former President Uribe stated, “They attacked the hope of the country, a great husband, father, son, brother, a great colleague.”
