In Madrid, a Spanish politician was shot in the face during an ambush. Alejo Vidal-Quadras, a 78-year-old former leader of Spain’s People’s Party in the Catalonia region, was targeted on Thursday, November 9, according to the police.
The incident occurred around 1:30 pm on Núñez de Balboa street in the upscale Salamanca district of central Madrid as he was returning home from a church service, as per eyewitness accounts.
A spokesperson from Civil Protection mentioned that Vidal-Quadras remained conscious and was promptly transported to the nearby Gregorio Marañón hospital. Meanwhile, law enforcement is actively pursuing two individuals who fled the scene on a motorbike, with the shooter donning a black helmet. Witnesses described the assailant as a ‘young, slender man’ wearing jeans and a dark coat, seemingly lying in wait for the politician to pass by.
The attacker and the victim exchanged no words; instead, the assailant approached Vidal-Quadras and fired a shot from close range before making a quick getaway on the waiting motorcycle driven by an accomplice. The police have cordoned off the area where the shooting occurred, and no arrests have been made at this time. The motive for the shooting remains undetermined.
Hospital staff later confirmed to El Pais that Vidal-Quadras is in stable condition, having sustained a single gunshot wound to the jaw.
Alberto Nunez Feijoo, the president of the Popular Party, condemned the shooting and expressed his hopes for Mr. Vidal-Quadras’ recovery.
Vidal-Quadras had previously served as the head of the center-right PP in Catalonia and was Vice-President of the European Parliament from 2009 to 2014 before joining the newly formed party Vox.
The Madrid Police’s homicide unit has initiated an investigation, and forensic teams are examining the crime scene.
Vox president Santiago Abascal expressed relief, stating that he believed Mr. Vidal-Quadras’ life was no longer in immediate danger.
