The assassination attempt on a well-known Spanish politician in Madrid last November was paid for and planned from the Netherlands, the Spanish police say. This afternoon a Dutch woman was arrested in our country. She is said to be the one who paid for the attack on Alejo Vidal-Quadras (78).
The link with the Netherlands again gives an unexpected twist to this case. Vidal-Quadras was shot in the face outside his apartment building in central Madrid on November 9. Because Vidal-Quadras had just previously posted a rather strongly worded message on social media about the amnesty that had just been completed that day for the leader of the Catalan independence movement, the perpetrator was first sought among Catalan separatists.
Iran was suspected
While he lay injured in the hospital and unable to speak, Vidal-Quadras wrote a note saying that a search party was needed in Iran. Vidal-Quadras, who is not only a politician but also a lawyer, provided legal assistance to the Iranian opposition. The regime in Tehran is therefore allegedly targeting him. But now, according to the Spanish police, we must look to the Netherlands for the story behind this attack.
A spokesperson for the Spanish national police tells RTL News that not all details can yet be released. What is certain is that a woman with Dutch nationality was arrested in the Netherlands this afternoon. According to the Spanish police, there is evidence that she paid for the attack. She would also have a role in the actual preparation.
Link with drug mafia
A number of Spanish media, including the newspaper El Pais, which is usually well informed, reported tonight that the order came from the Dutch drug world, which is also strongly represented in the south of Spain, especially in and around the city of Marbella. When asked, a spokesperson for the Spanish national police said it was still too early to say anything about this.
The Dutch police also indicate that they cannot make any statements about the case.
The police have already made quite a few arrests in connection with the attack, but because previous suspicions about where the perpetrators and clients should be sought turned out to be incorrect, several people have been released. In addition to the Dutch woman who was arrested today, there are currently four other suspects in this case. Three of them were arrested in southern Spain, the fourth in South America.
Tags: Attack Spanish politician planned paid Netherlands RTL News
