Santiago Bernabeu Stadium (Madrid) Evacuated for Bomb Threat

Cadena Cope [Spanish radio station] ^ | 12/12/04 | Staff of La Cope

[livius]

Santiago Bernabeu Stadium (Madrid) Evacuated for Bomb Threat

Security agents of the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium have ordered the evacuation of the stadium, host to the game between the Real Madrid and the Real Sociedad [Spanish soccer teams], because of an alleged bomb threat. A call to the newspaper Gara de San Sebastian [in the Basque region] announced the placement of an explosive device in the Madrid stadium. The caller claimed that it would explode at 9:00 p.m. The approximately 75,000 spectators present were told over the PA system to leave the premises, although they were not informed of the reason, and were permitted to exit onto the field, which they did in a calm and orderly manner. The press officer of the Real Madrid, Antonio Garcia Ferrera, announced that the National Security Agencies had examined the warning before deciding to evacuate the stadium. As of now, the fans have left the stadium and there is a massive traffic jam on La Castellana [6 lane street that passes the stadium]. Despite the fact that the bomb threat came through the usual channels, it should be remembered that only a few days ago, the PP [conservative party] headquarters in Madrid’s Calle Genova also had a false bomb threat.

[longjack]

This was on November 3. Spanish authorities got the information from Islamic extremists who had been arrested for the planning of a different attack.

German news is now saying that that today was a "false alarm". The Stadium was searched and no bomb was found.

Not taking any chances, probably.

Bernabeau holds 80,000.

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03.11.04 15:26

Terror-Plan: Real Madrids Santiago Bernabéu sollte gesprengt werden

Islamische Extremisten hatten einen schlimmen Terror-Plan. Sie wollten das Stadion von Real Madrid in die Luft sprengen. Die spanischen Behörden haben jetzt Terror-Pläne über das Vorhaben gefunden.

Der Anschlag sollte bei einem Spiel von Real passieren. In das Santiago-Bernabéu-Stadion passen 80.000 Menschen rein. Die Extremisten wurden bei der Planung eines anderen Anschlags festgenommen.

source: www.bild.t-online.de

Stern Shortnews

Stadium Santiago Bernabéu / Picture from www.bild.t-online.de

longjack

[livius]

Guardia Civíl. They weren't there. This was the local police force. Not that the Guardia Civíl is perfect (and in fact, their inaction or inefficiency seems to have played a big role in the 3/11 bombings), but it appears that nobody even called them.

[MaryJaneNC]

Yes, Spain will find out just what their APPEASEMENT policy brings. It leaves them wide open.

[livius]

Most people thought it was a false alarm, but how do you know? I hate to think what would happen here if we had to evacuate the stadium in JAX during the Superbowl.

[livius]

I think they're finding it out. It's a pity. I love Spain - and in fact, I'll be there most of next week - but I honestly don't think the next years under ZP are going to be very pleasant. He has broadcast weakness to the four winds.

[monkeywrench]

Thanks for the reply. I hope the Spanish people wake up early to the fact they have a clintonista style ruler on their hands. They'll never get thr truth about anything as long as he's in charge.

[EGPWS]

He has broadcast weakness to the four winds.

A grave mistake when it comes to terrorism.

[longjack]

The November 3 article said that the attack was planned during a game. With that knowledge they'd have to evacuate on any threat if they considered that the information discussed in the original report were accurate.

The action today seems to confirm the validity of the November 3 report.

The "Bild" link has more information about the suspect. I'm not sure if you know German, although "Bild" is fairly easier to understand. The terrorist, with ties to OBL & AQ is in jail in Switzerland. Spain is trying to extradite him.

Bottom line, though, although not mentioned explicitly, is that Spain still considers itself an AQ target, regardless of the capitulation by Zapatero.

My feeling, FWIW, is that AQ has infiltrated the ETA, and will deceive them by perpetrating an attack with a large loss of life using the ETA's network.

longjack

[livius]

It certainly is. BTW, Zapatero is known to many conservative political writers in Spain as "Bambi," because of his wide-eyed "can't we all just get along" remarks, such as his memorably stupid speech at the UN. ZP is another one of those people who may be really evil - or may simply be so dumb that they have the same effect.

[EGPWS]

- or may simply be so dumb that they have the same effect.

Ah, he didn't come to power by HIS stupidity alone....

[livius]

I can hack my way through a German article, although it's far from my best language!

If I recall correctly from what I have read in the Spanish press, the terrorist who is in the Swiss jail was quite deeply involved with the March 11 attacks.

I think your point that Spain still knows it's an AQ target is very valid and very important. I always have the feeling (when I am in Spain) that Spaniards are waiting for the other shoe to drop.

I'm not sure exactly what's going to happen, or even what the objective is. ZP has already given them many, many goodies: for example, imams no longer have to have a "real" job to be permitted to immigrate legally to Spain [remember, as the French have found, an imam can be anybody who decides he is one]; the Spanish government is arranging for Muslim religious instruction in virtually all public schools; and many Spaniards are converting to Islam, with the encouragement and blessing of the left-wing media. And Morocco seems to have become the dominant partner in that area of the Mediterranean.

What's left to gain? Maybe they don't even need to attack.

[prairiebreeze]

families of the victims of the March 11 attacks turned up screaming "Aznar asesino" [Aznar, killer]. Forget about AQ. The press loved it.

What does the bulk of the populace think?

[Trajan88]

I stayed in a hotel right outside the stadium while on vacation in '00. From the outside it is a gigantic venue... seems like it could hold a lot more than 72K.

Trajan88; TAMU... beat the hell outta the Vols.

[Finalapproach29er]

The Spanish need to grasp the fact that it doesn't matter if they appease AQ.

This is about the Moors 900 years ago, and these Muslim clowns of today trying to, again, conquer EUrope by taking a southern path through Spain.

Therefore, Spain will remain a target.

[Spanishguy]

"...However, his girlfriend, who knew a lot and had also been subjected to threats, drowned herself off of Gijón (city in Asturias)last week - remaining in the water for 40 minutes, while the police refused to save her or let anybody else bring her in"
How did the police explain their inaction?

Well, the story is not exactly that one. Before the police came some people went for her (even though the cantabric sea on storm is quite scary) but she refused the help and almost drowned the people who was trying to help.

At the view of that the police called a rescue boat to pick her despise her resistance but it was already too late.

[monkeywrench]

Thanks for the reply.

[Don Carlos]

I'm curious about where the Army and/or Guardia Civil stand on this whole left swing the government has taken. Both used to be very conservative 20-odd years ago. Of course, at that time they were still packed with Franco-era senior officers. I still half expect them to come out of their barracks one day and put a stop to ZP.

My wife is Sevillana, and have a SIL still living there, so I have more than a passing interest. Wife is convinced that ZP had reached an agreement with both AQ and ETA prior to the election - basically his acquiescance after they secured his election.