Key Suspect Arrested in Colombian Senator Shooting Incident

Police have arrested Élder José Arteaga Hernandez for his role in coordinating the assassination attempt on Colombian senator Miguel Uribe, who remains critically injured following a shooting at a campaign rally.

Colombian law enforcement officials have announced the arrest of Élder José Arteaga Hernandez, suspected of orchestrating the assassination attempt on conservative senator Miguel Uribe during a recent political rally. The attack, which took place on June 7 in Bogotá, left Uribe with severe head injuries; he is currently in critical condition.

Arteaga allegedly played a pivotal role in the assault, convincing a 15-year-old boy to carry out the shooting, and is accused of "aggravated attempted homicide" and involving minors in criminal activities. This suspect comes with a substantial criminal background and was already wanted by authorities.

Prior to Arteaga's arrest, police had detained four individuals, including the teenager, who was caught fleeing the scene shortly after the shooting. Despite his involvement, the young suspect has pleaded not guilty, as stated by the prosecutor's office.

Senator Uribe, 39, announced his bid for the presidency in the 2026 elections last year. He has been a vocal critic of the current left-wing government led by President Gustavo Petro and is known to come from a politically influential family; his mother was a journalist tragically slain during a kidnapping incident in 1991.

The assassination attempt has sparked widespread outrage, leading to silent protests across Colombia, uniting tens of thousands in solidarity for the senator's recovery.