Alejo Vidal-Quadras Roca, the former Catalonia leader, has remarkably survived a shooting in Madrid after sustaining bullet wounds to his head.
Police received a call at around 2pm that he had been struck as he arrived at an event on Núñez de Balboa Street.
The authorities are hunting down a suspect, who they believe to be a young man, believed to be responsible for firing the weapon at Vidal-Quadras Roca.
Investigators are currently in the process of securing CCTV footage from nearby cameras after it emerged the youngster fled the scene on a motorcycle.
The authorities hope this will allow them to retrieve the getaway vehicle’s license plate.
Vidal-Quadras Roca is a well-known figure in Spanish politics.
As well as being the former president of the PP of Catalonia, he was also known for his role as an MEP.
He is currently conscious, local reports say, and stable in a Madrid hospital.
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The suspect was reportedly wearing a helmet as they approached the politician, before unleashing bullets at him.
Vidal-Quadras Roca was set to appear at a series of demonstrations in Madrid, speaking alongside supporters of his right-wing party VOX.
He had been walking down the busy street when the attack occurred.
After the authorities arrived, he was taken to the Hospital de la Princesa in a serious, but stable, condition.
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The leader has been a vocal critic of the Spanish government – and particularly the country’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez.
He and Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont i Casamajó, who is also an MEP, had reportedly agreed an amnesty deal between the two divisions.
Vidal-Quadras Roca’s most recent tweet read: “The infamous pact between Sánchez and Puigdemont that crushes the rule of law in Spain and ends the separation of powers has already been agreed.
“Our Nation will thus cease to be a liberal democracy and become a totalitarian tyranny. We Spaniards will not allow it.”
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