Spain - At least one explosion at Madrid train station [186 dead, over 1000 wounded, graphic photos]

Associated Press | March 10, 2004

[HAL9000]

MADRID, Spain (AP) -- At least one explosion rocked a Madrid train station Thursday, news reports and witnesses said.

Police cars raced to the Atocha station after the early morning explosion. An Associated Press reporter saw a woman with a bloodied face outside the station. Medics were seen treating at least three people.

People living near the station said they heard at least two blasts.

MORE...

[PureSolace]

A man injured by an explosion on a train, walks outside the Atocha railway station in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, March 11, 2004. A series of explosions killed at least 60 people and injured dozens (AP Photo/J.J. Guillen/EFE)

[HAL9000]

Can we get a headline update to indicate the dozens of casualties? Thanks.

[PureSolace]

FROM BBC:

Commuters describe Madrid blast chaos


The blasts occurred during morning rush hour
Commuters travelling to work at the time of the explosions on trains in the Spanish capital Madrid the capital have described horrific scenes.
The morning rush hour came to a standstill as emergency services dealt with the dead and injured.

Civil servant Juani Fernandez, 50, was on the platform at Atocha station when the blasts happened.

"I saw many things explode in the air, I don't know, it was horrible," he told the Associated Press news agency.

"People started to scream and run, some bumping into each other and as we ran there was another explosion.

"I saw people with blood pouring from them, people on the ground."

Other witnesses told Spanish National Radio they saw people lying on the ground and train cars destroyed.

A woman who lives near the El Pozo station on the line leading to Atocha said: "The scene I am seeing is hellish.

"People running toward Atocha however they can.

"I can see people inside the remains of the train."

[yonif]

[PureSolace]

Pictures starting to trickle in now...

Mangled Carnage The wreckage of one of the trains hit by terrorists. Two suburban trains and one high-speed intercity train were struck.

Commuter Blast A series of explosions went off at train stations in southern Madrid as Spaniards travelled to work.

Election Warning The blasts, which authorities say bear the hallmarks of a separatist Eta attack, come ahead of elections this weekend.

Rescuers At Full Stretch The city rang out to emergency services' sirens as scores of people were killed and injured.

Bloody Attacks The bombs inflicted one of the highest Spanish terrorist death tolls in recent years despite authorities being on high alert.

Ongoing Threat The attacks follow the arrest of two Eta suspects believed to have been planning an attack on another station on Christmas Eve.

SOURCE: SKY NEWS

[PureSolace]

A young man injured by an explosion on a train, is helped by a paramedic, outside the Atocha railway station in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, March 11, 2004. A series of explosions killed at least 60 killed people and injured dozens. (AP Photo/Jose Huesca/EFE)

[PureSolace]

SOURCE: SKY NEWS

Tourist Target. Eta has been shifting its attacks to tourists rather than striking at its traditional target of policemen and politicians.

[KantianBurke]

Terrible. The US should make it clear that we're willing and ready to help our allie with this terror.

[KantianBurke]

Eta has been shifting its attacks to tourists rather than striking at its traditional target of policemen and politicians.

Makes sense. The ETA's popularity has sunk quite a bit in part due to Spain's economic health which is aided by tourism. A weakened economy makes Basque independence much more popular. Kind of like what the Rats try to do in elections here.

[yonif]

Israel Radio: ETA takes responsibility for the terrorist attacks.

[yonif]

CNN: Additional explosion heard in Madrid just now.

[KantianBurke]

another bombing?? this might be Spain's 9-11.

[yonif]

Report of another explosion just now, was a supervised Police explosion of a device that never blew up at the train station.

[HAL9000]

CNN: Additional explosion heard in Madrid just now.

Perhaps it was this - from Europa Press via Babelfish -

The TEDAX make a controlled explosion in the environs of the station of Atocha

MADRID, 11 (EUROPE PRESS)

The Police has made an explosion controlled to 10:03 in the parking of the station of Atocha that connects with the Stroll of Reina Maria Cristina, informed to Europe Press eyewitnesses. The controlled explosion has not produced victims.

Moments before, the field hospital of the polideportivo of Daoiz and Velarde, located next to the station of Atocha, in the Téllez street of Madrid, were evacuated. Previously to the explosion a helicopter of the service of Emergencies 112 had landed to evacuate to the victims

[PureSolace]

SOURCE: BBC

Powerful blasts tore through packed trains during the morning rush hour

Scores of people on board the trains were killed and dozens more were wounded

There was chaos as confused and dazed victims were helped from the scene

Those who could not walk were carried to safety

Emergency services were on the scene in minutes to clear the area and help the wounded

Security forces sealed off the area as rescue work continued

As the dust settled, the shock of what happened began to set in

[yonif]

Israel Radio quotes report coming from a Spanish radio station saying there there are so far over 100 murdered, and possibly there might be hundreds more undergroup still.

Madrid Mayor: Calls for calm, says terrible massacre.

Harsh images on TV. Panic in streets.

[PureSolace]

another bombing?? this might be Spain's 9-11.

...ya mean 3-11.

[PureSolace]

The wreckage of a Spanish intercity train destroyed by an explosion lies on the track at Atocha railway station in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, March 11, 2004. A series of explosions in the city killed at least 62 people and injured dozens. (AP Photo/Alvaro Hernandez)

[yonif]

Looks like worse terror attack in history of Spain.