Colombian authorities vow to investigate and penalize crimes against Uribe
In the heart of Bogotá, the capital city of Colombia, a tragic event unfolded on June 7, 2025, during a political rally. Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay, a prominent figure in Colombian politics, was shot and tragically passed away after 64 days in the hospital due to a hemorrhage in the central nervous system on August 11, 2025.
Senator Uribe Turbay, a grandson of former President Julio César Turbay Ayala and son of journalist Diana Turbay, had a distinguished political career. He served as the President of Bogotá's City Council, Secretary of Government, and was elected Senator in 2022 as the most-voted candidate on the right-leaning Centro Democrático party list. In March 2025, he launched a presidential campaign, positioning himself as a frontrunner in his party and a key opposition figure against President Gustavo Petro.
The investigation into Uribe Turbay's assassination is ongoing, with the authorities pursuing a wider conspiracy. The material author, a 15-year-old minor, and Elder José Arteaga Hernández, known as "el Costeño", have been detained and are under investigation. The authorities have classified the case as "magnicide", the murder of a person of great political or social relevance.
President Petro has expressed his condolences to Uribe Turbay's family and emphasized that "life is above any ideology". He lamented the "tragic attack against an opposition senator". The Attorney General, Gregorio Eljach, has called for a transparent and prompt investigation to prevent deterrence of political participation and to clarify the circumstances "in the shortest possible time, for the good of Colombia and its democratic process".
Various political figures have spoken out about the assassination. Vice President Francia Márquez called for national unity against violence, stating that "Democracy is not built with bullets or blood, it's built with respect, dialogue, and recognition of differences". The President of the chamber, Carlos Fernando Galán, wrote that Uribe Turbay served the city and worked for a better Bogotá. Pedro Sánchez Suárez, the Minister of Defense, emphasized that "the violent will not intimidate or silence the political voices that democracy requires".
Eljach has also appealed to "set aside conflict and polarization" and to create spaces of dialogue that bring the country closer to peace and reconciliation. The Municipal Chamber of Bogotá declared three days of mourning in honor of Uribe Turbay. The investigation continues to identify the masterminds behind the attack, without discarding any hypothesis, including the Segunda Marquetalia guerrilla.
This article provides an overview of the background of Miguel Uribe Turbay and the current status of the investigation into his assassination in Bogotá. The tragic event has sparked a call for unity, transparency, and a commitment to democracy in Colombia.
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