The Colombian National Police arrested, on Saturday (5), the main suspect of planning the fire attack against conservative Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay – one of the main opponents of leftist president Gustavo Petro.
Elder José Artaaga Hernández was arrested in the northwest region of the Colombian capital. The arrest was confirmed by the director of the National Police, Major General Carlos Fernando Triana. According to investigations, Arteaga is the mentor of the attack on June 7 in a capital park during a political act.
The senator was hit by a shot on his head while speaking. The author of the shot, according to the police, would be a minor seized shortly after the crime. Three other individuals were also arrested for involvement in the logistics of the attack. The motivation of the crime is still under investigation.
“It is believed that this man is responsible for coordinating criminal activity, as well as identifying and delivering the weapon to the teenager who allegedly executed the attack on the presidential candidate. In the next few hours, he will be taken before a judge to legalize his arrest and face trial for the crimes of attempted murder, manufacturing, trafficking, possession or possession of firearms, accessories, pieces or ammunition; National Police of Colombia. Interpol had issued a red alert against Arteaga on Friday (4).
Miguel Uribe, who in 2023 announced his pre-candidacy for the Presidency of the Republic for the 2026 elections, is still hospitalized in serious condition after multiple surgeries.
Who is Miguel Uribe
Opponent and staunch critic of leftist President Gustavo Petro, the senator was, until the attack, one of the firmer voices of opposition to the current government, denouncing economic setbacks and threats to democratic freedoms under Petro’s management.
In the area of security, for example, he argues that the Petro government has a permissive policy regarding illegal armed groups. Another criticism is the attempts to concentrate the power of the government, delegitimizing control bodies, pressuring the Constitutional Court and maintaining a stance of confrontation with Congress, which would endanger democracy and the separation of powers.
A few hours before the attack, the right -wing politician had Published a video in X saying that he would prosecut for prevailing ministers who signed a decree that Petro intended to launch to make a popular consultation to legitimize his reforms in Colombia. Shortly before, Petro had threatened that “minister who does not sign the presidential decree will leave immediately”. Days after the shot attack, the Colombian President issued the decree, but the Council of State suspended the measure because it did not have prior approval from the Senate.
In March this year, Uribe had confirmed his presidential candidacy for the country’s Democratic Center Party.
