Reader TTS

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 of Madrid in the upmarket neighbourhood of Pozuelo de Alarcon, a short drive from the city centre, around 9.15am. He was pronounced dead 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 Portnov outside the school and opened fire on him when he arrived. Police said

five bullets were fired and they are now looking for a "tall, thin man". Police sources told El Mundo he was first struck from behind with a bullet hitting him in the neck, and

then after falling face down he was struck in the head. 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 Ukraine, 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 Volodymyr Zelensky 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. Sources have said there

are two theories - that it could either be a revenge killing or be politically motivated. 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.