In a gripping interview on Spain’s main national television network, Professor Alejo Vidal-Quadras, President of the International Committee in Search of Justice and former Vice President of the European Parliament, shared his harrowing experience of surviving an assassination attempt. The attack occurred last November in Madrid and involved a 37-year-old French-Tunisian named Mahrez Ayari, who has a history of criminal activity and ties to the notorious Mocro Mafia in the Netherlands. The plot, as Vidal-Quadras firmly believes, was orchestrated and financed by the Iranian regime, targeting him due to his outspoken support for the Iranian Resistance.
Below is the detailed Q&A from the interview:
Host: “Good morning, Professor Vidal-Quadras. To start, can you tell us what happened in November and what you believe led to the assassination attempt?”
Vidal-Quadras: “From the very beginning, it was clear to me that this assassination attempt was orchestrated and financed by the Iranian regime. This criminal religious dictatorship, which suppresses its people in Iran, targeted me due to my long-standing support for the Iranian Resistance against this brutal regime. That’s why they tried to kill me.”
Host: “What do we know about the person who attacked you?”
Prof. @VidalQuadras: Arrested Man Planned to Kill Me at #Iranian Regime’s Behesthttps://t.co/QOMtTGQeK5
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) June 21, 2024
Vidal-Quadras: “The attacker, Mahrez Ayari, is a 37-year-old French-Tunisian with a criminal record. He is linked to the Mocro Mafia, a very dangerous organization based in the Netherlands. After the attack, he was pursued and eventually arrested.”
Host: “When did you first become aware of threats against you?”
Vidal-Quadras: “In October 2022, the Iranian regime published a list of its enemies, which included individuals and organizations. I was at the top of this list along with two other Spanish politicians. The first two organizations on the list were ones I have been closely associated with, including one where I served as honorary president during my time in the European Parliament and another which I still chair. It was evident that I was in the regime’s crosshairs.”
Host: “Given that Iran has a well-known and capable intelligence service, why do you think they outsourced this assassination attempt to an external criminal organization?”
Vidal-Quadras: “Historically, they executed these killings themselves, using either the Revolutionary Guards or Ministry of Intelligence operatives. However, after a major backlash from the EU and Western democracies following an attack on Iranian Kurdish dissidents at a Berlin restaurant in the early 90s, the regime changed its methods. Now, they contract these murders to mafias in various countries. For instance, a few years ago, the FBI foiled an assassination plot against John Bolton, Trump’s National Security Advisor, which was outsourced to a Latin American mafia.”
Host: “What can you tell us about the current status of the investigation?”
Vidal-Quadras: “The Spanish judge handling this case at the National Court has classified it as confidential, and this status has been extended several times. So, beyond the general knowledge that we all share, I don’t have further details on the current progress of the investigation.”
Returning to NCRI Event, Dr. Alejo Vidal Quadras Challenges Regime and Pledges Support of #Iran’s Resistancehttps://t.co/bvY89ZdjRW
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) March 6, 2024
Panelist: “It’s difficult to imagine, but how much do you think was paid for this assassination attempt? What price was put on your head?”
Vidal-Quadras: (laughs) “Well, I hope they didn’t value me too cheaply!”
Panelist: “Without a doubt, that wasn’t the case, Mr. Vidal-Quadras. Congratulations on maintaining such a strong spirit!”
Host: “That’s an admirable sense of humor, Professor Vidal-Quadras, especially in such circumstances. Thank you for being with us and sharing your story.”
Vidal-Quadras: “Thank you very much.”
