Eight Charged in Vidal-Quadras Shooting as Alleged Organizer Finds Refuge in Iran

Madrid – Alejo Vidal-Quadras, former Vice-President of the European Parliament, has publicly accused the Iranian regime of sheltering the alleged organizer of the assassination attempt he survived on November 9, 2023. In a recent social media post, Vidal-Quadras stated, "The organizer of the attack I suffered on 9/11/2023 is sheltered in Iran, protected by the criminal regime of the ayatollahs who commissioned and financed my assassination." He further questioned whether the Spanish government would take diplomatic measures regarding the situation.

The attack, which occurred in broad daylight in Madrid, saw Vidal-Quadras shot in the face, sustaining severe jaw injuries but miraculously surviving. The alleged shooter, Mehrez Ayari, a Tunisian-French national with links to organized crime, was later arrested in the Netherlands in June 2024. Ayari is also suspected of preparing another politically motivated killing at the time of his apprehension.

Spanish judicial proceedings have advanced significantly, with the High Court charging eight individuals in connection with the attempted assassination. Investigating judge Santiago Pedraz stated that the assault was ordered by unidentified individuals seeking revenge for Vidal-Quadras's outspoken opposition to Iran's clerical government. The alleged mastermind of the plot, Sami Bekal Bounouar, is believed by Spanish investigators to be hiding in Iran, evading justice under the regime's protection.

Vidal-Quadras has been a vocal critic of the Iranian regime for over two decades, actively supporting the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). He testified before Spain's National Court that his name appeared on Iran's "blacklist" in 2022, a clear indication of him being a target. This long-standing advocacy for Iranian democracy is considered the primary motive behind the assassination attempt.

The incident underscores broader concerns about alleged Iranian state-sponsored violence on European soil, often utilizing criminal networks for plausible deniability. Vidal-Quadras's call for Spanish diplomatic action highlights the growing pressure on European governments to address Tehran's alleged extraterritorial operations. The ongoing investigation aims to fully uncover the extent of the network involved and the direct connections to the Iranian regime.