Spanish PM punched by wife's cousin during walkabout
The sudden attack on the Spanish leader was caught on camera
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A teenage boy who punched the Spanish Prime Minister is a distant relation of the leader.
Mariano Rajoy, 60, was approached by the 17-year-old boy, named locally as private schoolboy Andrés de V. F, and asked to pose for a selfie while walking through crowds in Pontevedra city, Galicia.
The attack, which left the PM unhurt although minus a pair of glasses, was caught on camera.
Andrés, who is believed to be the son of a cousin of Mr Rajoy’s wife Elvira Fernández Balboa, according to ocal newspaper La Voz de Galicia, was sentenced to six months in a youth detention centre on Thursday for attacking the PM.
As he was led away from the scene in Pontevedra, the teenager appeared to have no regrets. Rasing his hands he gave the crowd and enthusiast thumbs up and reportedly shouted: “I’m happy I did that".
It has been reported the teen, who has been expelled from many of the top schools in the Galician region, had recently been treated for depression having shown troubled behaviour.
The PM later told Spanish news service Telecinco it was “over very quickly”.
"The only problem was that my glasses fell off and I could not find them, but then normal life resumed."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments