Micah Jonah
February 11, 2026
Colombian President, Gustavo Petro said he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt after intelligence reports warned that gunmen were planning to shoot at the helicopter he was travelling in with his daughters.
Petro disclosed that the aircraft was unable to land at its intended destination along Colombia’s Caribbean coast due to credible security threats. According to him, information received indicated that attackers were positioned to open fire on the helicopter.
He said the situation forced his crew to alter course, with the helicopter flying towards the open sea for several hours before eventually landing safely at an alternative location with support from the Colombian Navy. Security arrangements and travel routes were subsequently adjusted.
The President stated that he has remained on high alert, linking the latest threat to earlier warnings of assassination plots allegedly orchestrated by drug trafficking groups. Petro has repeatedly claimed that criminal cartels have targeted him since he assumed office in August 2022.
The development comes amid escalating violence in Colombia as the country prepares for legislative elections scheduled for March 8 and presidential elections for May 31. Petro is constitutionally barred from seeking a second term.
In a related incident, Senator Aida Quilcué, an Indigenous leader and human rights advocate, was kidnapped in Cauca Department but was later rescued alongside her bodyguards following a security operation. Authorities confirmed she is safe.
Security analysts have warned that more than 300 municipalities across Colombia face risks of electoral violence as political activities intensify. The recent events have heightened concerns over the country’s fragile security environment ahead of the polls.
