Former President of Catalonia's Popular Party Shot in Face in Shocking Madrid Attack

 According to a spokesman for Spain's Interior Ministry, Alejo Vidal-Quadras, the former president of Spain's Popular Party (PP) in Catalonia, was shot in the face in Madrid on Thursday afternoon. The incident occurred in the wealthy Salamanca area of central Madrid around 1.30pm local time. Vidal-Quadras, one of the founder members of the far-right party Vox, has been taken to the hospital and is conscious.

Spanish police are currently searching for two men on a black motorbike believed to be connected to the shooting. Vox Party President Santiago Abascal stated that it is too early to speculate on the motive behind the attack. Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his solidarity and wished Vidal-Quadras a speedy recovery. Sanchez also emphasized the importance of a thorough investigation and the capture of those responsible for the attack.

Vidal-Quadras, 78, held various elected positions throughout his career, including being a member of the Catalonian regional parliament in Barcelona and the European Parliament. He played a significant role in the Catalonian PP party before co-founding Vox, which has experienced a surge in popularity since its establishment in 2013. The attack on Vidal-Quadras has garnered international attention, with politicians from Spain and beyond expressing their shock and condemning the act of violence. Spain's Acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, along with leaders from the People's Party (PP) and Vox, called for a prompt investigation and the swift arrest of the perpetrators.

Giorgia Meloni, the Prime Minister of Italy's right-wing party, also voiced her support for Vidal-Quadras, condemning the attack as unacceptable and wishing him a speedy recovery. Furthermore, Shahin Gobadi, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, acknowledged Vidal-Quadras as a staunch supporter of the Iranian opposition movement and the fight for human rights in Iran over the past 25 years. The motive behind the attack is currently unknown, and police have not made any arrests as of now.