The Command Post - Global Recon - Updates on Spain Attacks [Will be updated frequently]

March 11, 2004

Updates on Spain Attacks [Will be updated frequently]

[This post will be updated throughout the day]

Euronews is reporting that there were 13 explosions in all.

[Basque Party Arnaldo] Otegi blamed "the Arab resistance", noting the example of Spain's role in the US-led war against Iraq.

"Spain maintains occupation forces in Iraq and we should not forget that it had a responsibility for the war in Iraq," he conveyed.<

However, Spanish officials brushed aside suggestions Thursday's attacks were carried out by Muslims. "It is absolutely clear that the terrorist organization ETA was seeking an attack with wide repercussions," Interior Minister Angel Acebes told a press conference.

9:17 (EST): EuroNews (who knew that these add-on channels would pay off?) is reporting that the explosives and other material used today are the same materials that have been used in the past by ETA. ETA is still denying responsibility.

9:21: Comments from world leaders:

Tony Blair: "This terrible attack underlines the threat that we all continue to face from terrorism in many countries and why we all must work together internationally to safeguard our peoples against such attacks, and defeat terrorism."

Jack Straw: "These atrocities are a disgusting assault on the very principle of European democracy. ... We stand shoulder to shoulder with the Spanish people and government in their fight against this kind of terrorism."

Vladimir Putin: "Terrorism has once again shown it is prepared deliberately to stop at nothing in creating human victims. ... An end must be put to this. As never before, it is vital to unite forces of the entire world community against terror."

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar: "There is no possible negotiation with these killers. ... Our aim is to win over terrorism. Only by being firm we can stop (terrorism). We must be firm fighting the terrorists and opposing the final aims they want to achieve."

10:02: [Interior Minister Angel Acebes] said security services knew it was Eta because the group attempted a similar attack on Christmas Eve, placing bombs on two trains bound for a Madrid station. He also noted that on February 29, police intercepted a Madrid-bound van packed with more than 500 1,000 pounds of explosives and blamed Eta.

10:12: Former Ambassador Dennis Ross, now a Fox News foreign affairs analyst, believes it possible that al Qaeda had something to do with the attacks:

"I think there could be an Al Qaeda connection simply because of the coordination because the style theirs. But a lot of these groups like to work together now. Al Qaeda seems to be franchising. If it's Al Qaeda, that's a reminder that what Al Qaeda stands for is death and destruction � nothing that benefits humanity."

At least one package of explosives didn't go off - police found a backpack stuffed with what appeared to be dynomite. The police later blew the explosives up to destroy them.

10:28: The death toll could have been much higher, if not for a University strike which kept most students - most of whom use the rail transportation - at home.

10:46: The number of injured has been updated to over 1,000.

1:59: Timeline of the attacks (via Yahoo)

7:39 a.m. � Three backpacks loaded with explosives blow up on a commuter train in Madrid's Atocha station.
7:44 a.m._ Four backpack bombs explode on a commuter train entering Atocha station.

7:49 a.m. � Backpack bomb explodes as a commuter train enters Santa Eugenia train station, nine miles from Atocha.

7:54 a.m. � Two bombs explode on double-decker commuter train in El Pozo station, six miles from Atocha.
10 a.m. � Police carry out controlled explosions of three booby-trap backpack bombs � two in Atocha, one in El Pozo

2:09 Expat Yank has constant updates and a ton of links.

Ali in Iraq thinks this was the work of Islamists.

4:44: Updated figures: 190 dead, 1400 wounded

France raises terror alert level

Posted by Michele at March 11, 2004 06:42 PM | TrackBack

Comments

...simply senseless. For those that did this your fate is sealed!
GOD PLEASE TAKE THESE SOULS,RIP..LOL..

Posted by: Rob..NC at March 11, 2004 09:29 AM

Thanks, Michele. It's 0122 here in Oz, and I'm off to kip.

I've posted emergency numbers, made a plea for any Spanish readers to give blood in my comments, and that's about all I can do. (Maybe you could echo the numbers and the Blood plea?)

I'll worry about exactly who did this, and how to get the bastards later. If it's ETA, they've just put their cause back 100 years. Minimum.

Posted by: Alan E Brain at March 11, 2004 09:29 AM

Ten different bombs,and not one of them set against a Jewish or an American target.Now that's against al-Qaeda's MO.

Posted by: Jussi H�m�l�inen at March 11, 2004 02:24 PM

Police have found a van with detonators and Arabic tapes with Koranic verses on it, according to FoxNews.

Posted by: mog at March 11, 2004 02:50 PM

Jussi: True, but during rush hour, there are any number of foreigners on the subways in Madrid. Some of them, no doubt, are Americans. Some might even be Israelis. I don't expect that there were any Arabs, Iranians, or Pakistanis on the subways when the bombs went off.

Also, the Arab world has never forgiven Spain for sheltering Jews during WWII, even if Franco was helping Hitler with raw materials for heavy artillery.

If al-Qaeda wanted to strike again, but this time at a European commercial center, with lots of death seen the world over, they picked their target well.

Posted by: gus3 at March 11, 2004 03:11 PM

Fox is reporting that a van has been found with detonators, explosives, and Arabic documents.

Now they have updated that a letter from Al Qaida has been found claiming responsibility.

Thats unusual in that Al Qaida normally doesn't take responsibility right away for its work.

Posted by: ArmdLbrl at March 11, 2004 03:33 PM

Could be a hybrid effort. It's not inconceivable that Al Quaeda and ETA have engaged in "knowledge transfers".

It was both a sophisticated and simple at the same time. Kind of like 9/11 - took some doing for coordination, but the actual mechanics of the operation aren't complex at all. Walk in, drop off, walk out. Nothing to it.

Posted by: Steve in Houston at March 11, 2004 04:55 PM

"France raises terror alert level"

Why bother? They are obviously going after countries that oppose terrorism.

Posted by: Mark Buehner at March 11, 2004 05:05 PM

10 bombs denotated in a near simultaneous attack. Sounds like Al-Qaeda to me.

The Bali attack happens this way.

Posted by: Dody Gunawinata at March 11, 2004 05:14 PM

I wish to take a moment to remember the victims, those who died and those who are grievously injured. My prayers are with them and their families. I know that G*d will find a way to comfort them and give them strength in their hour of need and the long days of recovery ahead.

As for those who perpetrated these acts, your day is coming and you should prepare yourself. There will be no mercy. In future, I believe bombers and those with blood on their hands should receive the death penalty. They should be summarily shot in front of a firing squad and their remains burned and scattered to the four corners so no man will know where they lie. They cannot be trusted to rehabilitate. We must be strong and rid this evil from the face of the earth. God give us strength to do what must be done! E.C.

Posted by: Elizabeth at March 11, 2004 06:18 PM

"They should be summarily shot in front of a firing squad and their remains burned and scattered to the four corners so no man will know where they lie."

there's that religion of peace popping up again!

Posted by: x at March 11, 2004 06:50 PM

New guy here; just a thought, but AQ is either 1) stupid or 2) doesn't care if Bush is re-elected. If it was AQ, this seems to me to buttress the argument that we are at war. Not a very 'strategic' move for them at all. If it proves to be AQ, watch the prez's #s jump in the next few days.

Posted by: b at March 11, 2004 07:06 PM

x

The people who do these acts, are nothing but cowardly murderers. And if there is a God/Allah, He will send them to HELL.

Posted by: Dream at March 11, 2004 07:09 PM

x, you apparently have no feelings at all. Instead of trying to impress us with how smart you are, which isn't working, why don't you show some compassion for the seemingly endless victims of these murderers?

Posted by: popd at March 11, 2004 07:21 PM

Expect the number of fatalities to increase close to 300 or so. With 1200 injured, a good number will not survive the week.

damn. I'm sorry.

Posted by: Dody Gunawinata at March 11, 2004 07:43 PM

Don't you realize that x has so slavishly
praised the indefensible before now
that x becomes one of them BY DEFAULT?

From his writings, x is almost guaranteed
to be a Wahabbi.

Posted by: leaddog2 at March 11, 2004 08:02 PM

oh my god leaddog that's the funniest thing i've read all week.

Posted by: x at March 11, 2004 08:06 PM

Both VOA News and TruthOut are reporting Arabic newspaper, Al-Quds al-Arabi, has had received a claim of responsibility for the train bombings issued in the name of Al Qaeda.

Posted by: Cranial at March 11, 2004 08:47 PM

It has to be AQ. Not even ETA could be so barbaric as this. It boggles the mind the mentality of the evil we face. My sympathies go to all the victims of this heinous crime.

Posted by: Dog at March 11, 2004 10:13 PM

God, is not "Allah"
god in Arabic is Ilah,
as in 'there is no ilah but Allah'
Allah is not a name for god in Arabic
Allah is the arabic god's name

God's name is Yahweh
That is the Christian/ Jewish Gods name

don't confuse the two

Now, back to the story.
This is odd for al quada because they usually blow themselves up as well.
We haven't seen a Allahs heavenly whore- less bombing in some time, till now

Posted by: Fat Guy at March 12, 2004 04:28 AM

Oh and dream, not that I disagree with your sentiments, but Allah sends those murderers to have sex with whores and pearly boys in his heaven for doing those things,

God (yahweh) on the otherhand, sends them to hell, so there is an answer as to who Allah is, and where his heaven is located.

Posted by: Fat Guy at March 12, 2004 04:36 AM

For your information "fat guy" & any of his friends who believe Allah does not punish right.

Allah is the creator of this world. I know that there is no question in the subject that you will end in hell yourself. For making others belive that your "god" (yahweh) is better than others.

Allah does punish those who do wrong in this appalling world. It is the fault of those who choose to do wrong but not the fault of Allah.
And, yes the attacks that have happened are horrible but it is not the fault of all the muslims out there. It is the fault of individuals who choose to do the wrong.
Therefore, the world should not criticize all kinds of muslims out there who are innocent.
So, next time "fat guy" i suggest you dont' judge what you don't personally know!

Posted by: lil gurl at March 16, 2004 05:25 PM

i agree w/ lil girl. she is right. i personally know what she is talking about. there is only one God in Judiaism, Christianity, and Islam, and it is the same God in all three. the correct word for God in Arabic IS ALLAH (Dog and Fatguy, get your facts straight), just as in Spanish, it is different. all three religions are branches from God's religion brought to us by Prophet Abraham, and even Adam. so back off. remember, walls have ears too, and you don't want to say something that could end up hurting you. what do you have against people that are different than you? if you represent humanity, you are not good at it for you cannot keep peace nor do you have tolerance for others, dog and fatguy.

Posted by: shockwave at March 29, 2004 05:53 PM