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Spanish politician Isabel Carrasco shot dead in Leon Spanish politician Isabel Carrasco shot dead in Leon
(about 1 hour later)
A top female politician in northern Spain has been shot dead in public and two women have been arrested. A top politician in northern Spain has been shot dead in public and two women have been arrested.
Isabel Carrasco, 59, head of the provincial government in Leon, was shot several times as she crossed a footbridge. Isabel Carrasco, head of the provincial government in Leon and a member of the governing People's Party (PP), was shot as she crossed a footbridge.
Police say a mother and daughter are being held, and Spanish media report that the daughter had lost her job at the council. Spanish media say the arrested women are the wife and daughter of a local police chief.
Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has cancelled engagements. It is also reported that the daughter was recently fired from a job with the provincial council.
Mr Rajoy is head of the Popular Party (PP) to which Ms Carrasco belonged. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has cancelled his official engagements.
She led the party in Leon as well as the provincial government. Ms Carrasco, 59, led the PP in Leon. The opposition Socialist Party and other parties have also offered condolences and cancelled campaign events.
The opposition Socialist Party and other parties have also offered condolences and cancelled campaign events.
'Act of vengeance''Act of vengeance'
Ms Carrasco was attacked on her way to a party meeting near her home at about 17:20 local time (15:20 GMT).Ms Carrasco was attacked on her way to a party meeting near her home at about 17:20 local time (15:20 GMT).
A police spokeswoman told AFP news agency: "We are investigating the participation of both [women] in the act."A police spokeswoman told AFP news agency: "We are investigating the participation of both [women] in the act."
Spanish media report that the two women were the wife and daughter of the police chief inspector of Astorga, a town in Leon province. El Pais newspaper reported that the women were the wife and daughter of the police chief of Astorga, a town in Leon province.
A local official confirmed they were the wife and daughter of a police chief, but did not specify if he was from Astorga, Spanish news agency EFE reported. Police have yet to recover the weapon used in the attack, El Pais said.
Police have yet to recover the weapon used in the attack, reports say.
A spokeswoman for the Spanish interior ministry said: "Everything points to it being a personal act of vengeance unrelated to her public position."A spokeswoman for the Spanish interior ministry said: "Everything points to it being a personal act of vengeance unrelated to her public position."
About 200 people gathered near the scene of her death, including the Mayor of Leon, Emilio Gutierrez, and several councillors and other local dignitaries, the ABC news website reported. About 200 people later gathered near the scene of the shooting, including the Mayor of Leon, Emilio Gutierrez, and other local dignitaries.
'Dismayed''Dismayed'
Witnesses described how a woman shot at Ms Carrasco as she crossed a bridge over the River Bernesga.Witnesses described how a woman shot at Ms Carrasco as she crossed a bridge over the River Bernesga.
Two witnesses told Spanish newspaper El Pais they heard five shots. "We thought they were firecrackers," one of them said. Two witnesses told El Pais they heard five shots. "We thought they were firecrackers," one of them said.
In a statement, the PP said campaign events for Monday and Tuesday had been cancelled, and thanked those who had offered condolences. In a statement, the PP said campaign events for the European elections had been cancelled on Monday and Tuesday, and thanked those who had offered condolences.
Mr Rajoy said on Twitter that he was "dismayed" at Ms Carrasco's death. "It is a time to be united," he added.Mr Rajoy said on Twitter that he was "dismayed" at Ms Carrasco's death. "It is a time to be united," he added.
Spanish deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria also condemned the attack.Spanish deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria also condemned the attack.
"These are moments of great consternation," she said. "We want to express our support and solidarity with Carrasco's family and to her colleagues at this hard time.""These are moments of great consternation," she said. "We want to express our support and solidarity with Carrasco's family and to her colleagues at this hard time."