Madrid school shooting: 'Ukrainian politician dies in revenge hit' as kids watch

A Ukrainian politician has been shot dead outside an international school in Madrid after he is believed to have dropped off his daughter.

Andriy Portnov, 52, was gunned down outside the school gates of The American School in the upmarket neighbourhood of Pozuelo de Alarcon a short drive from Madrid city centre around 9.15am. He was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders who rushed to the scene to try to save him.

A man on a motorbike is said to have been waiting for Mr Portnov outside the school and opened fire on him when he arrived. Police reportedly have said that five bullets were fired and they are now looking for a "tall, thin man".

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Portnov was a Ukrainian lawyer and politician who has been described as pro-Russian. He was added to the US sanctions list in 2021 over allegations that he was involved in corruption in , particularly in the judiciary.

He had been a deputy chief of staff for Ukraine’s pro-Kremlin ex-President Viktor Yanukovych and fled Ukraine after Yanukovych was overthrown in 2014 although he returned after was elected president in 2019. It was reported in July 2022 that Portnov had left Ukraine despite a travel ban for military-age males and it is not immediately clear how long he had been living in Spain.

The police are investigating the incident after a person reported that there was "a person in the street with gunshot wounds." And well-placed sources are describing it as an ‘ajuste de cuenta’ - which translates into English as a ‘settling of scores’ or ‘revenge killing.

School chiefs have confirmed all its pupils, teachers and other parents are safe. Local reports say the school is still on lockdown and no-one is currently allowed to leave or enter the educational facility.

A statement from the school read: "Police and ambulances are here, and the site is secure. Counsellors are available to assist those who need support. All students are currently in their classrooms and safe. We will keep you informed." Several parents who were dropping off their children are understood to have witnessed the shooting.

Parents received a message from the school stating: “We want to inform you that a serious incident occurred just outside the school gates this morning. All students are safe on campus . A shooting occurred just outside the school entrance after drop-off time, and several parents witnessed the incident. We believe the victim is an ASM (American School Madrid) parent. We understand he is in critical condition.”

This morning’s shooting will be investigated by a specialist police group called the Brigada de Información, dubbed Spain’s secret police in the fight against terrorism and hate crimes.

It comes after last year the body of a Russian helicopter pilot, who defected to Ukraine, was found in Spain. Maxim Kuzminov flew a helicopter into Ukrainian territory, where he handed himself in. And his bullet-riddled body was later found on February 13, 2024, in La Cala, near the eastern port city of Alicante, according to Civil Guard police. The man had been shot half a dozen times and was run over by the car.

Andrii Yusov, a representative of Ukrainian military intelligence, confirmed to local media that the former Russian pilot had died in Spain, but didn’t provide details. It is not clear how or why Mr Kuzminov would have travelled to Spain.