Christian Voices Rise After Candidate Shot
Colombian senator and presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe Turbay was critically injured in a shooting at a political rally in Bogotá on Saturday. The attack, which occurred during a campaign speech, drew swift condemnation across Colombia and internationally. Uribe, a member of the conservative Democratic Center Party, sustained three gunshot wounds—two to the head—and remains in intensive care.
Footage circulating on social media captured the chaos as gunfire rang out mid-speech, followed by scenes of Uribe being rushed to safety, visibly injured and surrounded by aides. Authorities apprehended a 15-year-old suspect at the scene. The teenager, who was wounded in the leg during a brief gunfight, was detained by the candidate’s security team.
The attempted assassination has prompted an outpouring of support from Christian leaders across Latin America. Pastor and former congressman John Milton Rodríguez shared a message on Instagram urging the nation to pray for Uribe’s recovery and for peace in Colombia. Evangelist Alberto Mottesi also called for an end to violence, asking for divine intervention in the region’s ongoing struggles with crime and unrest.
Professor and author José González, who leads the Semilla organization, expressed his sorrow over the attack, urging Colombians not to give in to fear or intimidation. He emphasized prayer not only for Uribe and his family but also for the nation, calling for a spiritual revival in the face of terrorism and political division.
Uribe Turbay, a lawyer and seasoned political figure, previously served as Bogotá’s Secretary of Government and city council president. Of Lebanese heritage and formerly affiliated with the Liberal Party, he later joined the Democratic Center and was elected senator in 2022. A vocal critic of President Gustavo Petro, Uribe has publicly opposed what he describes as anti-Christian policies. In response to the attack, religious and civic groups have planned a national prayer gathering on Sunday outside the clinic where Uribe remains hospitalized.