(Update) Death toll rises to 182 after Madrid blasts

Reuters ^ | 3/11/04

[areafiftyone]

MADRID, March 11 (Reuters) - The death toll rose to 182 from a series of explosions that ripped through crowded passenger trains during the rush-hour in Madrid on Thursday, Madrid regional officials said.

Some 900 were wounded, officials said.

Officials had previously put the death toll at 173.

Authorities blamed the attacks on Basque separatist group ETA, which is listed as a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union.

[annyokie]

Agreed. The name of the homegrown Greek terror cell escapes me, but they are the guys who plant explosives and then wait five years to explode them. Construction for the Games has been pretty dicey, from what I understand.

[wjcsux]

I don't doubt that many of the world's prominent terrorist groups have pooled resources and shared tactics with one another. Shades of things to come, I'm afraid. Good reason to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Keep your firearms close at hand.

[breakem]

If anyone runs a pig list on this, please add me. Wife and due in Madrid in 4 weeks with two train trips scheduled.

[tortoise]

While I immedately thought ETA...I really don't see their marks either.

I hope for Al Qaeda's sake it was them and not the ETA. How embarrassing it would be for the ETA to make the "premier" terrorist group to look like a bunch of amateurs when it comes to doing terrorist bombings.

Seriously though, this was a much slicker operation than the usual radical islamic idiot bombings. The only thing that makes me doubt that it is ETA is that the ETA, like the IRA, normally "plays nice" with their bombings, with the whole ritual of warning phone calls and official statements and such -- more symbolic and political than intended to actually kill scads of people.

[AmishDude]

Yeah, I was wondering about the timing, too. Spanish elections are going to result in the anti-terrorists getting a huge boost if it's an al Qaeda hit. There will be a Basque crackdown if it's the ETA.

If it's al Qaeda, why Spain? I know they're a big supporter of the WOT, but so is Italy and Britain.

[areafiftyone]

Thank you. I Thought so.

[John H K]

Eh, the only evidence I've seen that it's AQ is the burning desire of people on FR to have these attacks be AQ and not ETA.

Last month they stopped a big ETA attack in Madrid before it happened.

And I think people are greatly exaggerating the "politeness" of ETA in their desire to portray this as an AQ attack.

[DallasMike]

If it's al Qaeda, why Spain? I know they're a big supporter of the WOT, but so is Italy and Britain.

My guess is that Spain is a little more "backwards" technologically than Italy and Britain; thus, it's easier to get bombs in place without being detected.

Plus, we know that the Muslims still have a big grudge against Spain for evicting them some 500 years ago. If there's one thing that they're good at, it's holding a grudge for centuries and centuries.

[DallasMike]

Eh, the only evidence I've seen that it's AQ is the burning desire of people on FR to have these attacks be AQ and not ETA.

I agree that there's no evidence yet that Al Qaeda committed the attacks (other than having a motive), but I wouldn't be shocked if it turns out that they did.

[Atlas Sneezed]

I don't know how important the ETA issue is in the upcoming election, but it crossed my mind that this could be a "Reichstag fire" scenario by anti-ETA factions seeking to secure an anti-ETA government due to the backlash.

[weegee]

I'd suggest voting early if possible in your area. Here in Texas (at least Houston) there is no excuse needed to go to the early polling center (which is open ~30 days before election day). Only ballots by mail have certain restrictions.

[AmishDude]

Plus, we know that the Muslims still have a big grudge against Spain for evicting them some 500 years ago. If there's one thing that they're good at, it's holding a grudge for centuries and centuries.

Very good point.

I've said this before, the Islamofascists don't hate Israel so much because they're Jewish, but that they're on "Muslim" soil. The Islamic worldview is in terms of territory. For example, the US is Christian, despite pluralism and the many atheists and agnostics. So is (don't laugh) Holland. It is so until the Muslims "take over". Now, when a country becomes a Muslim country, you can tell.

Israel was the last land "taken" so it's the first on the list to be taken back. Kashmir is the same way. Spain and the Balkans are lower on the list.

[AmishDude]

I don't know how important the ETA issue is in the upcoming election, but it crossed my mind that this could be a "Reichstag fire" scenario by anti-ETA factions seeking to secure an anti-ETA government due to the backlash.

Almost 200 people are dead. This would have to be followed by a dictatorial regime in order to keep the conspiracy quiet if you are right. Plus, the ETA has been very very inactive lately. The "anti-ETA" forces, if they can be referred to in this way (it'd be like talking about "anti-al Qaeda Americans") might benefit, but I don't see this as a real option for a Spanish political party.

[John H K]

Politically the ETA and Basque separatism are basically finished, actually.

This attack probably was the result of ETA desperation.

Very few Basques even support the ETA.

[AmishDude]

Politically the ETA and Basque separatism are basically finished, actually.

So, what is the ETA on the demise of the ETA?

I'm so so sorry, it just had to be said.

[Shermy]

4. Bombs were found ready to go off timed to kill rescue workers...just like what happens in Israel.

Offset bombing also are set to catch concentrated, fleeing people. This happened in Bali, and recently in Karbala.

That alone makes this look very much like AQ/Saudi/Iran. Votes against Aznar and stability in Iraq, aka competitive oil production to SA and Iran.

[AmishDude]

I think it's important to have a map of Spain to get an idea of what the deal is. The "Basque country" is labeled "Pais Vasco".

[John W]

I haven't seen any evidence per se either way.But,I've seen several talking heads on news channels today discussing the possibility of it being AQ.This one isn't just a FR phenomenon.

[B-Chan]

[John W]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1095600/posts

(BREAKING) ARABIC TAPE AND DETONATORS FOUND IN VAN IN MADRID - SPANISH MINISTER