A former Catalan political leader has been shot in the face in Madrid.

Alejo Vidal-Quadras, who used to be head of Spain’s centre-right People’s Party in Catalonia, was shot in the affluent Salamanca area at about 1.30pm.

The 78-year-old has been taken to hospital but is expected to survive, according to Santiago Abascal, president of the far-right Vox party Mr Vidal-Quadras co-founded.

“Thank god it seems that Alejandro Vidal-Quadras is out of danger,” he said.

Police are searching for a motorcyclist wearing a black helmet in connection with the shooting, according to the EFE news agency.

No arrests have been made, and police have cordoned off the area where the shooting happened.

Popular Party President Alberto Núñez Feijóo deplored the shooting and wished for his recovery.

Mr Vidal-Quadras became a member of European Parliament before breaking away to co-found the Vox party, which he left shortly after a failed attempt to win a seat in 2014.

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