Spanish politician Alejo Vidal-Quadras, co-founder of the VOX political party and former president of the Popular Party in Catalonia, is in the hospital in serious condition after being shot in the face in Madrid. Doctors said that the former member of the European parliament is "stable and conscious" and his life is not in danger.
Quiero trasladar mi solidaridad y deseos de pronta recuperación a Alejo Vidal-Quadras.
Todo mi afecto en estos momentos para él y para su familia.
Confiamos en que la investigación pueda esclarecer cuanto antes los hechos y se detenga a los responsables.
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) November 9, 2023
The assailant fled on a motorcycle after the attack
The assailant was riding as a passenger on a motorcycle when he crossed paths with the politician, who was alone and was about to get into a car on Núñez de Balboa Street in the Spanish capital. He shot the politician in the face with a 9mm Parabellum caliber pistol and the bullet grazed his jaw. After the shooting, the attacker got onto the back of a black Yamaha motorcycle that was waiting for him and he and the driver fled down a one-way street in the wrong direction.
#Agresión con arma de fuego en c/Núñez de Balboa, 40. #Salamanca.@SAMUR_PC estabiliza a un hombre de 78 años con una herida por arma de fuego y lo traslada a un hospital de #Madrid.@policia investiga. Colabora @policiademadrid. pic.twitter.com/OZHJH866no
— Emergencias Madrid (@EmergenciasMad) November 9, 2023
At this time, the motive for the attack is unknown. The politician was treated by passers-by and residents of the area before the emergency services and two National Police officers arrived and administered first aid. The investigation into the shooting is being carried out by the Homicide Group from the Madrid Police Department.
He complained in his latest tweet about a possible amnesty deal with Catalan separatists
The politician's last tweet before being attacked was from this morning. He condemned the agreement between the acting president of the government and leader of the PSOE, Pedro Sánchez, with the Catalan separatists to be sworn in as leader in exchange for a broad amnesty. Vidal-Quadras is one of the people on the right who is most familiar with the situation in Catalonia, where he led the Popular Party for several years.
Ya se ha acordado el infame pacto entre Sánchez y Puigdemont que tritura en España el Estado de Derecho y acaba con la separación de poderes. Nuestra Nación dejará así de ser una democracia liberal para convertirse en una tiranía totalitaria. Los españoles no lo permitiremos.
— Alejo Vidal-Quadras (@VidalQuadras) November 9, 2023
