BOGOTÁ, Colombia (BN24) — Police have arrested the alleged mastermind behind the brazen assassination attempt on Colombian senator and presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe, who remains in critical condition after being shot during a campaign rally last month.
Authorities identified the suspect as Élder José Arteaga Hernandez, a career criminal accused of orchestrating the attack on June 7 in Bogotá. Investigators say Arteaga persuaded a 15-year-old boy to carry out the shooting, which left Uribe with two gunshot wounds to the head as he campaigned for his party’s nomination ahead of the 2026 presidential election.
Four other individuals, including the teenage gunman, had already been taken into custody. The youth was apprehended while fleeing the scene and has pleaded not guilty, according to the prosecutor’s office.
“The subject has a long criminal record,” Colombian police chief Carlos Fernando Triana said Friday. Arteaga, who also uses the aliases Chipi and Costeño, was wanted on charges of aggravated attempted homicide and exploiting minors to commit crimes.
Police allege Arteaga coordinated the operation, recruited the teenager, and supplied the firearm used in the attack. He was reportedly seen near the Bogotá park where Uribe was shot.
Uribe, 39, is a prominent conservative politician and outspoken critic of leftist President Gustavo Petro. He declared his presidential candidacy last October. He comes from a well-known political family connected to Colombia’s Liberal Party; his father was a union leader and businessman, and his mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was killed during a rescue attempt after being kidnapped by the Medellín cartel in 1991.
The shooting sparked nationwide outrage and silent demonstrations attended by tens of thousands of Colombians demanding an end to political violence.
bbc.com
