Top Spanish politician shot in the face in ‘attempted assassination’ by gunman on a motorbike on street in Madrid
A TOP Spanish politician has been rushed to hospital after he was shot in the face in Madrid in an apparent assassination attempt.
Alejo Vidal-Quadras Roca, the former head of Spain‘s People’s Party in the Catalonia region, was ambushed by a gunman on a motorbike.
Alejo, who has also served as an MEP and First Vice President of the European Parliament, is said to be stable and conscious.
Cops and paramedics were called to the wealthy neighbourhood of Salamanca in the centre of Madrid shortly before 2pm.
Detectives are hunting for two suspects who were said to be waiting for Alejo and fled on a black Yamaha motorbike, according to reports.
It’s understood the politician was shot at point-blank range from just two metres away.
Aleja suffered a single gunshot wound to the jaw, sources told El Pais.
Witnesses reportedly described the attacker as a “young, small man” who was wearing jeans and a dark coat.
They said the gunman jumped off the motorbike and shot Aleja “at least once” without removing his helmet.
Cops have cordoned off the area of the shooting and no arrests have been made yet, police said.
Alejo, 78, was the frontrunner for Vox – a conservative political party in Spain that he founded – in the 2014 European election, but the party failed to win a seat.
He’s a former member of the Barcelona City Council, the Parliament of Catalonia and Senator in the Spanish Senate.
The shooting of the politician came as Spain’s prime minister struck a deal with Catalan separatists that will enable him to remain in power.
But the deal has raised tensions and sparked protests in the country.
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