Colombian President Gustavo Petro confirmed on Tuesday that he survived an assassination attempt on Monday night while traveling on a helicopter. The leftist president, who has been in power since 2022, has confirmed for months that armed networks linked to drug trafficking are seeking to assassinate him.

Published on: 02/10/2026 - 21:30Last updated: 02/10/2026 - 21:42

Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on Tuesday that he had survived an assassination attempt hours before, after warnings he had received for months about an alleged plot by drug traffickers targeting him.

Pietro explained that his helicopter was unable to land on Monday night at its destination on the Caribbean coast due to fears that people he did not name “were going to shoot” at it.

The president said in a government meeting that was broadcast live, "We headed to the open sea for four hours and arrived at a place we did not intend to go, to escape being killed."

France 24/AFP

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