Attempted murder of right-wing Spanish politician being investigated as ‘terrorist’ incident

Spain’s National Court (Audience Nacional) is investigating the attempted assassination of right-wing politician Alejo Vidal-Quadras as a potential terrorist case, Spanish media reported on Monday.

Vidal-Quadras, former head of Spain’s Popular Party in Catalonia and former vice president of the European Parliament, was shot in the face last week in the Salamanca district of Madrid. He was transferred to a local hospital, where his condition was listed as “stable and conscious.”

On Monday, Spanish media reported that National Court judge Francisco de Jorge was investigating the incident as an “attempted murder of a terrorist nature.”

Doubts that the crime was politically motivated arose after Vidal-Quadras himself suggested the Iranian regime might be behind the attempted assassination. The Spanish politician, who has been a staunch supporter of Iranian dissidents, reportedly told authorities that he “has no other enemies.” 

A motorcyclist approached Vidal-Quadras last week and shot him at point-blank range before fleeing on the vehicle. A burnt motorcycle was found near Madrid later the same day, which police believe was the same one used by the attacker.

Police have not made any arrests related to the shooting, nor has a link to Iran been confirmed, AP reported.