Colombian police have arrested Élder José Arteaga Hernandez, accused of orchestrating an assassination attempt on conservative senator Miguel Uribe, who remains in critical condition after being shot during a campaign rally. The incident has sparked nationwide protests, with the motives yet to be clarified.
Arrest of Alleged Mastermind in Assassination Attempt on Colombian Senator
Arrest of Alleged Mastermind in Assassination Attempt on Colombian Senator
The police apprehend a key suspect linked to an assassination attempt on a presidential hopeful, raising questions about the motives behind the attack.
Colombian authorities have made significant progress in their investigation of the assassination attempt on senator Miguel Uribe, a prominent conservative figure and presidential hopeful for the 2026 elections. On June 7, Uribe was shot twice in the head while campaigning in Bogotá, leaving him in critical condition.
The apprehended suspect, Élder José Arteaga Hernandez, is alleged to have masterminded the attack, persuading a 15-year-old to carry out the shooting. This arrest comes on the heels of previous apprehensions, including the young gunman, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against him.
As per Colombian police chief Carlos Fernando Triana, Arteaga boasts a long criminal history, with charges including "aggravated attempted homicide" and "use of minors for committing crimes." Authorities assert that he not only coordinated the assault but also provided the gunman with a weapon. Previously, Arteaga had been accused of being present at the scene of the attack, intensifying the investigation's focus on his role.
Senator Uribe, who has been a vocal critic of current leftist President Gustavo Petro, announced his candidacy for the upcoming presidential elections last October. His lineage is noteworthy; he hails from a prominent political family with historic ties to Colombia's Liberal Party. His mother, well-regarded journalist Diana Turbay, was tragically murdered in 1991 during a kidnapping incident resulting from her association with prominent political discourse.
The attack on Uribe has sparked significant civil unrest, leading to silent protests with participation from tens of thousands of citizens, underscoring widespread concern regarding political violence in Colombia. The investigation continues as authorities seek to dissect the motives behind this assassination attempt, which strikes at the heart of the nation’s fractious political landscape.
