Colombian authorities on Tuesday moved to arrest senior figures of the Segunda Marquetalia rebel faction, issuing warrants for seven people accused of involvement in the June 2025 killing of senator Miguel Uribe. The attorney general framed the action as the culmination of a long-running inquiry into an assassination that authorities say was intended to undermine democratic processes.
The arrest orders name veterans Ivan Luciano Marín Arango and Gener García Molina among the seven suspects - known by their aliases Ivan Marquez and Jhon 40 respectively - as alleged architects of what prosecutors have called a "magnicide." Security sources quoted by officials say Marquez and several other individuals tied to the case are believed to be in hiding in neighboring Venezuela.
Uribe, a lawmaker from a well-known political family and a candidate from the right-wing opposition, was shot while speaking at a public campaign event in Bogota in June 2025. Authorities and analysts described the attack as the most serious episode of political violence in Colombia in nearly 20 years, recalling a period when political killings were more frequent.
Attorney General Luz Adriana Camargo characterized the Bogota shooting as a "structured criminal operation" that contracted an urban gang to carry out the hit. Investigators have identified Kendry Tellez as the principal coordinator, alleging he arranged a payment of 1 billion pesos - reported as roughly $250,000 - for the assassination during meetings held close to the Venezuelan border.
"The murder of Dr. Uribe Turbay was motivated by political-instrumental reasons linked to his functions as a senator and candidate," Camargo said, while offering no further elaboration on the specific political motives she referenced.
The announcement of the arrest warrants represents what the attorney general called the final phase of the probe. The investigation has already produced prosecutions against nine people. Among those convicted, prosecutors say, is Simeon Perez, who received a sentence of more than 22 years for serving as a liaison between the rebel leadership and the urban assassins.
Two other defendants were handed 21-year prison terms for roles in surveillance and logistics related to the killing, while a 15-year-old identified as the shooter was processed under juvenile justice provisions. The suspects face charges that include aggravated homicide and conspiracy.
Segunda Marquetalia is a dissident offshoot of the now-demobilized Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). According to the attorney general's office, the group's leaders originally signed a peace agreement in 2016 but returned to armed activity three years later, citing unmet commitments by the state. More recently, the faction opened new talks in 2024 as part of President Gustavo Petro's wider push to resolve decades-long internal conflict.
Authorities' pursuit of the rebel leaders and the formalization of arrest warrants close a significant chapter in a probe that has linked senior insurgent figures to one of the most consequential acts of political violence in the country's recent history. At the same time, Camargo's limited public explanation about the political drivers of the killing leaves unanswered questions about motive, even as the legal process continues against those already convicted and those now formally sought.
Summary: Arrest warrants issued for seven Segunda Marquetalia leaders in connection with the June 2025 assassination of senator Miguel Uribe; investigators allege a paid, structured operation involving a contracted urban gang and coordination near the Venezuelan border. Previous prosecutions have resulted in multiple convictions and lengthy sentences.