Madrid school shooting: 'Pro-Putin politician dies in revenge hit' as kids watch

A prestigious international school in Madrid is on lockdown after a Ukrainian politician was shot dead this morning outside after dropping off his children.

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. Mr 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.

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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.

Several parents who were dropping off their children are understood to have witnessed the shooting. A school receptionist said she was unable to talk on the phone this morning “because she had lots of parents with her.”

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