(RepublicanDaily.org) – A former head of the Catalonia branch of the People’s Party in Spain was shot in the face recently.
Two men on board a dark motorcycle fired into the face of Alejo Vidal-Quadras while he was at the upscale Salamanca area, which is located in central Madrid. The suspects are still at large and no arrests have been made as of press time. Police found the burnt out remains of a motorcycle near Madrid on the same day as the incident, and believe it to be the vehicle used in the attempted murder.
The 78-year-old Vidal-Quadras is also the founder of Vox, Spain’s far-right party. He has fortunately survived the ordeal and is recuperating at a local hospital and is “stable and conscious.” Reports on his injury say that the bullet passed through his jaw.
“All my affection at this time for him and his family,” read part of a statement from Pedro Sanchez, Spain’s acting prime minister. Sanchez also called on authorities to investigate the matter thoroughly and make the appropriate arrests as swiftly as possible.
Authorities are also reportedly looking at the possibility that the shooting was politically motivated. National Court judge Francisco de Jorge is reportedly looking at the incident was and “attempted murder of a terrorist nature.”
This was after Vidal-Quadras told police that he believes that Iran may be involved in the attempt on his life. The right-wing politician, who is now affiliated with the more center-right People’s Party, is a staunch supporter of the Iranian opposition. In fact, Iran has placed sanctions on Vidal-Quadras for his close association with the People’s Mujahedin of Iran, a group opposed to the Iranian leadership who are in exile abroad. Besides Iran, Vidal-Quadras told investigators that he “has no other enemies.”
Police have not yet found any concrete links between Iran and the shooting, but are continuing to pursue the theory as well as other avenues of investigation.
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