**Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe Shot at Campaign Event in Bogota**

In a shocking incident, Colombian senator Miguel Uribe, who is a prospective candidate for next year’s presidential race, was shot during a campaign event in Bogota. The national police reported that the senator, aged 39 and a member of the conservative Centro Democrático party, was attacked on Wednesday.

According to a statement from his party, Uribe was targeted by armed assailants who shot him in the back around 5 p.m. while he was engaging with supporters in the Fontibon district of the capital city. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation from various quarters, including the government and other political leaders.

Bogota Mayor Carlos Galán announced that Uribe was receiving emergency medical care following the attack and confirmed that the suspected attacker has been apprehended. President Gustavo Petro expressed his heartfelt sympathies to Uribe’s family through a post on social media platform X, reflecting the depth of the national tragedy.

The Colombian foreign ministry was quick to denounce this act of violence, labeling it as a direct attack on the country's democracy and the peaceful exercise of political discourse. They have urged the authorities to expedite the investigation and bring clarity to this grievous incident. Centro Democrático also released a strong statement condemning the attack, emphasizing that such acts threaten both individual lives and the broader democratic freedoms of Colombia.

Notable political figures and regional leaders also voiced their outrage. Four former Colombian presidents, Ernesto Samper, Álvaro Uribe, Juan Manuel Santos, and Iván Duque, publicly condemned the shooting. Additionally, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa extended his prayers to Uribe’s family and denounced violence and intolerance.

The UN Human Rights office in Bogota has called on authorities to ensure justice and maintain a political environment free from violence. Their statement underlined the importance of protecting political rights and the necessity for a non-violent political debate.

This brazen attack on Senator Uribe has cast a shadow over the political landscape in Colombia, underscoring the urgent need for heightened security and protection for political figures in the lead-up to the elections.