Bogota: Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Tuesday (local time) said that he escaped an assassination bid while travelling by helicopter with his daughters, after claiming for months about an alleged plot to target him, reportedly by drug traffickers, Al Jazeera reported.
In a video message, Petro said that his helicopter on Monday (local time) failed to land at a destination on Colombia’s Caribbean coast due to fears that unspecified people “were going to shoot”.
The Colombian president said his helicopter diverted toward open waters for nearly four hours before landing at an alternate location, with multiple last-minute adjustments made to his itinerary and flight path.
In a report carried by public broadcaster Radio Nacional de Colombia, Petro said, “Last night, I couldn’t land because I was informed that they were going to shoot at the helicopter I was travelling with my daughters.” He further added, “They didn’t even turn on the lights where I was supposed to land.”
He made these remarks at a Council of Ministers meeting in the Cordoba Department. Speaking at the meeting, the Colombian President said he was forced to change his plans drastically due to threats to his safety.
The Colombian President’s claim comes at a time when the country is reporting a surge in cases of violence ahead of the may 31 presidential elections. Colombia is marred by a many years of conflict between the guerrilla and other armed groups.
Reports said authorities suspect involvement by drug traffickers and ex-FARC dissident leaders like Iván Mordisco, amid rising pre-election violence before the May 31 vote. No formal government investigation details or arrests have been confirmed publicly.
In 2024, the Colombian President reported an assassination attempt. He also claimed that he has been on the radar of a drug-trafficking cartel ever since he assumed office in August 2022.
