Colombian authorities have taken a critical step in the investigation of the June 7 assassination attempt against senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe, apprehending the alleged mastermind, Élder José Arteaga Hernandez. The senator was shot in the head twice while campaigning in Bogotá for his party's nomination in the upcoming 2026 presidential elections and remains in critical condition.
Arteaga is accused of orchestrating the assault and coordinating with a 15-year-old gunman, who has also been taken into custody. Four additional suspects were apprehended earlier, indicating a broader criminal network involved in the attack. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, raising concerns about political violence in Colombia.
Colombian police chief Carlos Fernando Triana confirmed that Arteaga has a long criminal history and outstanding warrants for aggravated attempted homicide and utilizing minors for criminal activities. Allegedly, he provided the weapon and hired the teenager, who was captured in the aftermath of the shooting and pleaded not guilty.
The senator, known for his critique of leftist President Gustavo Petro, comes from a political lineage that includes a father who was a union leader and a mother, journalist Diana Turbay, who was tragically killed by the Medellin cartel in 1991. In response to Uribe's shooting, widespread protests emerged, demonstrating the outrage felt by tens of thousands of Colombians against the violence targeting their political figures.
