2004 MADRID TRAIN BOMBINGS

Summary of the attacks and terrorism in Spain

Key Facts Also known as “11-M”, the attacks were carried out the morning of

March 11, 2004, three days before general elections in Spain. Ten explosives went off in a matter of minutes between 7:37 and

7:40 on four commuter trains , killing 191 people and injuring over 1,800 making it the deadliest terrorism attack in all of Europe

The worst terrorism attack in Spain since the 1987 Hipercor bombing in Barcelona which killed 21 and injured 45

Initially thought to be carried out by the Basque Separist Terrorist organization (ETA), after an investigation it was discovered the attacks were carried out by an al-Qaeda inspired terrorist group

The attacks spurred protests nationwide and had profound political ramifications as the country was initially divided among political lines and the two main political parties PSOE and PP accused each other of mishandling the situation. Additionally citizens became disillusioned with the government as many believed the responses to the attacks were used by parties to further their political aims

Investigation of the Bombings Immediately after the bombings, the incumbent party PP

deemed the ETA responsible for the attacks despite denial of involvement with the attacks, al-Qaeda also thought to be a prime suspect

March 14, 2004 Al-Qaeda spokesman claims responsibility via a video tape.

Three week manhunt leads police to an apartment in Leganes, believed to be the base of operations for the primary seven suspects. April 3, 2004 police raid the premises, yet the suspects were tipped off and set off a bomb killing themselves as well as one police officer. Controversies arise over ETA involvement because lots of evidence destroyed in the bombing of the apartment

November 2004 official inquiry into the bombings begin. 29 people with suspected involvement go to trial in early 2007

No direct al-Qaeda link found however the perpetrators were inspired by al-Qaeda ideology

Results The bombings created political tension three days before

the general elections as both parties blamed the other for mishandling of the situation

Incumbent party PP and Jose Aznar were defeated in the March 14 elections and the handling of the attacks are cited as a result of the PP’s defeat

Numerous demonstrations and protests across the nation in a response to condemn terrorism and the ETA and the government as well as to remember the victims

Mourning of the victims began immediately, as much of media in Spain spent all day covering the event.

Sympathy from international governments and leaders condemning terrorism, as well as many demonstrations in cities across Europe

Moments of silence nationally and internationally

10 Years Later… Madrid and all of Spain still mourns the loss of those lost that

day March 11, 2014 marked the 10 year anniversary of the train

bombings. Commemorative mass held at Almudena Cathedral and cermonies held at Rememberance Garden in Retiro Park

From Time.com, victim Antonio Gomez who suffered a broken leg as a result of the bomb shares his thoughts on the anniversaries  “It is a strange feeling, of pain, of sadness, of rage. It’s a mixture of many feelings at the same time. Rage because we were just workers riding a train. We were not important personalities, people with a lot of money, we were regular people. What do regular people have to do with politics? We were going to work to earn money to raise our families and live decently.”

While it is a day of remembrance for many, some want to avoid reminders of the wreckage and trauma from that day

ETA (Spain´s Terrorist Organization)

An armed radical Basque nationalist and separist organization founded in 1959, out of frustration of the moderation of the Basque nationalist party

Frederico Krutwig´s 1963 Vasconia considered to be the central text of the movement, nationalism based on language and culture rather than race.

Goals outlined in 1995 Democratic Alternative publication. Includes self governance for the Basque region as well as amnesty for all members

First recorded death June 7 1968, death of a Civil guard member. Since 1968 it has been held responsible for 829 deaths (over 340 civillians) and thousands of injuries.

Notable attacks: December 1973 assasination of Franco´s successor Luis Carrero Blanco, 1985 Hipercor Bombing, 1997 kidnapping and death of Miguel Angel Blanco, 2006 Madrid Airport bombing

Deemed a terrorist organization by authorities in Spain. Britain, France, and much of Europe.

End of ETA and Basque Conflict ETA had decleared ceasefires in 1989, 1996, 1998, and

2006 but had gone on to break them all Mid 2000´s a period of decline for ETA as worldwide antí-

terrorism is at its pinnacle February 2010 ETA´s top leader Ibon Gogeasoecha is

arrested in France Ceasefire declared in September of 2010, uncertainty

whether it was temporary or permanent until October 20, 2011 it announced a definitive cessation of its armed activity, ending the violence in the Basque conflict

Violence of ETA condemned by Basque nationalist groups however there is still a desire for Basque separatism