Colombian President Petro Says He Survived Assassination Attempt

Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro claimed he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt during a helicopter trip with his daughters, following repeated warnings of threats from drug gangs. The reported attempt comes as the country faces growing violence ahead of upcoming elections. Petro is constitutionally prohibited from seeking re-election.

He said his helicopter had to avoid landing on the Caribbean coast on Monday after reports that unknown individuals were preparing to shoot at it. According to Petro, a narco group has been trying to kill him since he assumed power in August 2022.

Separately, Senator Aida Quilcue was kidnapped on Tuesday and later released following Petro’s intervention. According to her daughter, Alejandra Legarda, the 53-year-old senator was abducted while riding in an SUV with two bodyguards. Reports say Petro warned the kidnappers they would face consequences if Quilcue were not released. Shortly after, the defence minister confirmed that the senator and her bodyguards had been freed. The Colombian military widely circulated photos of Quilcue on its official social media channels.

Radio Nacional de Colombia reported that Petro said these events have kept him in permanent alert. He added that similar actions have been occurring since October last year. Armed attackers killed two bodyguards of a senator last week during an assault on his convoy in the border region of Arauca. A Colombian observer cautioned that electoral violence could erupt in several regions as the country heads toward legislative elections on March 8 and presidential elections on May 31.