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eep! It was only 15 dead when I woke up this morning
Posted: 18:12 Mar 11 2004
173 dead in Spanish terror attacks
www.guardian.co.uk/spain/article/0,2763,1166996,00.html
A series of explosions tore through Madrid train stations at appoximately at 7:35am local time today. The Spanish government have put the death toll at 173, with 900 wounded, but there are fears this could rise. These attacks come a few days before Spain's general election this Sunday, for which all political parties have now suspended campaigning.
The terrorist group ETA are the leading suspects.
I'm sure everyone will join me in hoping the human excrement responsible for these atrocities are hunted down and made to pay for what they've done.
A series of explosions tore through Madrid train stations at appoximately at 7:35am local time today. The Spanish government have put the death toll at 173, with 900 wounded, but there are fears this could rise. These attacks come a few days before Spain's general election this Sunday, for which all political parties have now suspended campaigning.
The terrorist group ETA are the leading suspects.
I'm sure everyone will join me in hoping the human excrement responsible for these atrocities are hunted down and made to pay for what they've done.
13 Replies and 1655 Views in Total.
This really dosn't feel like ETA to me, the attacks bear no similarity to anything they've done in the past and would represent an unprecedented escalation.
by Byron
The terrorist group ETA are the leading suspects.
Although they've been more indescriminate since they renounced the ceasefire in '99 their attacks have continued to focus on political and tourist targets.
The massive anti-ETA backlash in '97 really hurt them in terms of popular support, and the same period has seen a lot of their Irish Republican and US support dry up, and Batasuna outlawed. Though you could argue that this may force them to take more significant action to raise their profile again, and that the arrests at the end of last year could have brought a lot of new, and radical, figures in to the group's leadership, if this attack was ETA then it could well represent the beginning of the end for the organisation.
AFAIK Batasuna have only unofficially said that it wasn't ETA so far, I'd expect a definate and more explicit statement from them soon, explicitly denouncing the attacks.
Posted: 18:40 Mar 11 2004
Over 190 dead and 1200 injured.
And...A group claiming to be acting in the name of al Qaeda says it was behind today's devastating Madrid train bombings, which killed at least 192 people.
www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1126951,00.html
Whoever has done this is so evil and they deserve what's coming to them...killing innocent people is not the way to solve problems.
And...A group claiming to be acting in the name of al Qaeda says it was behind today's devastating Madrid train bombings, which killed at least 192 people.
www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1126951,00.html
Whoever has done this is so evil and they deserve what's coming to them...killing innocent people is not the way to solve problems.
Posted: 21:24 Mar 11 2004
Eep...Ok I heard 400 so I'm glad its lower, not that is much of a consolation 
Posted: 22:43 Mar 11 2004
The Al Qaeda claim has yet to be confirmed, but the fact that it's been exactly 30 months since 911 has not passed me unnoticed.
Posted: 00:10 Mar 12 2004
As yet i dont think even the authorities know enough to guess between groups.
However, they have announces that the bombs were of a similar nature to ETA's. And, since many leaders were arrested recently there are fears a more leathal regiment has taken over.
Spain has now announced a 3 day morning period and, since i really wont be able to shop tomorrow, i'm off to give blood. Every little helps.
197 is my latest death count.
people here are still friendly to eachother but instead of smiling and saying hello, they look grim and ask how i am. Everyone says fine to each other but you can tell they arent. This isnt going to vanish from the spanish psyche soon.
However, they have announces that the bombs were of a similar nature to ETA's. And, since many leaders were arrested recently there are fears a more leathal regiment has taken over.
Spain has now announced a 3 day morning period and, since i really wont be able to shop tomorrow, i'm off to give blood. Every little helps.
197 is my latest death count.
people here are still friendly to eachother but instead of smiling and saying hello, they look grim and ask how i am. Everyone says fine to each other but you can tell they arent. This isnt going to vanish from the spanish psyche soon.
Posted: 00:30 Mar 12 2004 They may have been similar in design, but certainly not in deployment; this was too big & too bloody to be mainstream ETA, and it's the wrong target to be mainstream Al-Qa'ida (why hit Spain instead of the UK?); while at the same time being too well organised to be a random bunch of lunatics (or small fringe or splinter group).
by Cat
However, they have announces that the bombs were of a similar nature to ETA's. And, since many leaders were arrested recently there are fears a more leathal regiment has taken over.
The fact that there's been no credible claim of responsibility from any nationalist/seperatist groups effectively rules them out; pretty much leaving an arabic splinter group -- given Al-Qa'ida connections with Algeria, my guess would be a splinter of GIA or someone similar.
Posted: 02:03 Mar 12 2004
Could someone with a head for dates confirm if 911 days have passed since 911? It looks to be damn close...
Posted: 13:04 Mar 12 2004 
Well spotted! I actually make it to be 912 days, but maybe I've made a mistake somewhere...
Posted: 13:10 Mar 12 2004
Well, it was someone on TheSite who suggested it first. My own contribution was that planes were first targeted, and then trains, so automobiles could be next... well it's something to think about...
Posted: 13:20 Mar 12 2004
So you reckon it's Steve Martin and the ghost of John Candy behind it then..? Interesting theory... 
Posted: 14:21 Mar 12 2004 It is 912 because of the leap year
by PictureOfFlowers
Well spotted! I actually make it to be 912 days, but maybe I've made a mistake somewhere...
Posted: 14:33 Mar 12 2004 The new leadership of ETA might be something to do with the increase in violence. But you are right, it isnt like them based on past form. And it isnt like them not to give warnings and to kill on such a scale.
by Callum
(quotes)
They may have been similar in design, but certainly not in deployment; this was too big & too bloody to be mainstream ETA, and it's the wrong target to be mainstream Al-Qa'ida (why hit Spain instead of the UK?); while at the same time being too well organised to be a random bunch of lunatics (or small fringe or splinter group).
They might also have just realised the hate they've managed to generate for their cause and be keeping their heads down. I wouldnt like to be the man stading up for Basque separatists right now!!
As for Spain being a target, we were the 3rd country to enter the war along with the US and UK, in the hope of reclaiming Gibraltar. Generally speaking this is a much more relaxed country when it comes to terrorism (everyone remembers the IRA in the UK) so we were an easy target.
Posted: 19:19 Mar 12 2004