Iran reportedly orchestrated the assassination of Vox co-founder
In a shocking turn of events, Spanish politician Alejo Vidal-Quadras, co-founder of the right-wing Vox party, survived an assassination attempt in Madrid on November 9, 2023. The incident, which left him with a gunshot wound near his cheekbone, has been linked to Iran's clerical regime in an investigative report by Spain's National Court.
Vidal-Quadras, who has a long career in Spanish politics, including serving as Vice-President of the European Parliament, has been a vocal critic of Iran's clerical government. His advocacy for resistance against the regime appears to have motivated unidentified individuals to order the assassination attempt, according to investigating judge Santiago Pedraz.
The operation was well-coordinated, involving a network active in crimes targeting individuals' lives, with international investigation across several countries. The mastermind and coordinator of the attack was identified as Sami Bekal, who served as the link between the sponsors of the killing and the operatives who executed it. The hitman, Mehrez Ayari, was affiliated with the Mocro Mafia criminal network and was arrested in the Netherlands before being extradited to Spain.
Intelligence agencies have linked the criminal network back to Iran, underlining Tehran’s involvement in orchestrating targeted assassinations in Europe. The case fits a broader pattern of Iran-linked covert assassinations targeting dissidents and opposition figures abroad.
Vidal-Quadras himself suspected Iran of being behind the attack after it occurred. He had been under surveillance for several weeks before the assassination attempt. Following the attack, an Iranian official reportedly threatened countries that harbour the People's Mujahideen with "serious consequences" via the Iranian news agency Fars.
Iran has placed Vidal-Quadras on its EU sanctions list, accusing him of terrorism for his activities against the Iranian regime. Other figures on the Iranian EU sanctions list, besides Vidal-Quadras, include Hermann Tertsch (Vox politician) and Christoph de Vries (CDU MP).
The Vox party, which Vidal-Quadras co-founded in 2013, has since celebrated great successes and is now the third-largest force in the Spanish Congress. However, Vidal-Quadras left the party shortly after the assassination attempt. The attack was also meant as a warning to Spain and the EU, according to investigators.
Vidal-Quadras initially engaged in the conservative People's Party (Partido Popular) before leaving it. The exact individual within the Iranian regime who gave the order for the assassination remains unclear, as it was given through an intermediary. The details of the intermediary involved in the assassination order are not specified in the provided information.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing tension between Iran and its critics, both within and outside its borders. The Spanish authorities are continuing their investigation into the matter, seeking to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure the safety of those who speak out against the Iranian regime.
- The assassination attempt on Spanish politician Alejo Vidal-Quadras, a vocal critic of Iran's clerical government, has been linked to Iran's involvement in covert assassinations targeting dissidents and opposition figures abroad, according to Spain's National Court.
- The Vox party, in which Vidal-Quadras co-founded, has experienced great success, becoming the third-largest force in the Spanish Congress. However, the assassination attempt was also meant as a warning to Spain and the EU, underscoring the ongoing tension between Iran and its critics.
