Former Catalan politician shot in face in Madrid

MADRID - The former head of Spain’s centre-right People’s Party in the Catalonia region was shot in the face in the Spanish capital Madrid on Thursday, police said.

Mr Alejo Vidal-Quadras was shot in the wealthy Salamanca area of central Madrid at about 1.30pm and taken to hospital.

Hospital authorities said his life was not in danger.

Police were hunting a gunman and an accomplice who drew up near Mr Vidal-Quadras on a black Yamaha motorcycle, shot him, then drove off.

Rescue workers said a bullet passed through Mr Vidal-Quadras’ jaw.

A torched motorcycle police believe was used in the attack was later found.

No arrests have been made. Police told Reuters no motive has been established for the attack.

Mr Vidal-Quadras, 78, was a former head of the centre-right People’s Party (PP) in Catalonia and a member of the far-right Vox party.

“I want to convey my solidarity and wishes for a speedy recovery to Alejo Vidal-Quadras. All my affection at this time for him and his family,” Spain’s acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez posted on social media.

Italy’s right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a statement Mr Vidal-Quadras was the victim of a “cowardly attack” and wished him a speedy and full recovery, while condemning “an act of unacceptable violence, perpetrated against a political representative of an important European nation.”

Mr Shahin Gobadi, member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, said in a statement on Thursday: “Dr Alejo-Vidal-Quadras has always supported the Iranian people’s resistance for freedom and human rights during the past quarter of a century.

“The virulent enmity of the clerical regime towards Alejo-Vidal-Quadras is common knowledge. He was among the first politicians the clerical regime placed on its terrorist list.” REUTERS