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Colombian Presidential Candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay in Critical Condition After Assassination Attempt in Bogotá
Colombian senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay is in critical condition after being shot three times, including twice in the head, during a campaign rally in Bogotá on Saturday. The 39-year-old was attacked while addressing supporters in a public park in the capital’s Fontibón district.
According to police, a 15-year-old suspect was apprehended at the scene and taken into custody. Authorities have not yet confirmed the motive behind the shooting.
Footage shared on social media appears to show the moment Uribe Turbay was struck mid-speech, triggering panic and chaos as the crowd dispersed. Emergency responders on the scene said the senator had been shot in the head and knee before being airlifted to a nearby hospital. A large crowd of supporters gathered outside the medical facility to hold a vigil as he underwent emergency surgery.
Uribe’s wife, María Claudia Tarazona, called on the nation to pray for his recovery. “Miguel is currently fighting for his life,” she said in a statement. “Let us ask God to guide the hands of the doctors who are treating him.”
Uribe’s party, the right-leaning Centro Democrático, condemned the attack, describing it as a direct assault on Colombia’s democracy and freedom. The party, founded by former President Álvaro Uribe (no relation), has positioned itself as a strong opposition voice to the current administration.
President Gustavo Petro’s government also denounced the shooting in strong terms. “This is an act of violence not only against a person, but against democracy itself,” the presidency said in a statement. In a televised address, Petro urged Colombians to unite in support of Uribe’s recovery. “What matters most today is that Dr. Miguel Uribe stays alive,” he said, calling it a “day of pain” for the country.
Defence Minister Pedro Sanchez called the shooting a “vile attack” and announced a substantial reward for information leading to those responsible. International condemnation followed quickly, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio labeling the incident a “direct threat to democracy.” Rubio also blamed what he called “violent leftist rhetoric” for fueling political tensions, though he did not cite specific examples.
Uribe Turbay is a rising figure in Colombian politics and a vocal critic of the Petro administration. He announced his candidacy for the 2026 presidential election last October and has served in the Senate since 2022. He comes from a well-known political family. His mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was kidnapped and killed in 1991 during a failed rescue mission while being held by the Medellín drug cartel led by Pablo Escobar.
Colombia is set to hold presidential elections on May 31, 2026. The attack on Uribe has intensified national debate over political violence and security in the run-up to the vote.
News
Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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