In a shocking and brazen act of political violence, Colombian presidential candidate Miguel Uribe was assassinated in broad daylight in the heart of Bogota on Sunday afternoon.
The attack, which took place during a public rally in Plaza de Bolívar, sent shockwaves through the country and the international community.
According to eyewitnesses, Uribe had just concluded a passionate speech about restoring law and order in Colombia when multiple gunshots rang out. Panic erupted among the crowd as the 38-year-old senator collapsed on stage, clutching his chest. Security forces immediately surrounded the area, returning fire as bystanders screamed and scattered for cover.
Video footage from the scene shows the exact moment chaos broke loose — Uribe smiling and waving to supporters before shots are fired from a nearby rooftop. His bodyguards tackled him to the ground, but it was too late. He was rushed to the hospital with critical injuries and was later pronounced dead.
Authorities have launched a nationwide manhunt for the perpetrators, with initial reports pointing to a coordinated plot involving at least three gunmen. President Gustavo Petro called the assassination “an attack on democracy” and vowed swift justice, declaring three days of national mourning.
Uribe, a rising star in conservative politics and vocal opponent of the government’s negotiations with narcotrafficking groups, had been polling strongly ahead of the upcoming elections. His death leaves a dangerous power vacuum — and a nation on edge.
Colombia, long haunted by political violence, now finds itself at a crossroads once again.