The bomb blasts and the attempted assassination are the latest signs that Colombia’s security situation is spinning out of control, a little more than a year before Petro must leave office. Illegal armed groups such as Mordisco’s continue to expand, while cocaine production rose to a record last year.

The brazen attack, captured on video, recalled the political violence of past decades. The senator arrived at a hospital in critical condition.

Uribe was speaking at a campaign event when gunshots rang out. He was shot three times, including in the head, and is "fighting for his life."