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The 2004 Madrid train bombings (also known as 11/3 after the pattern of 9/11, but in European style) was a collection of coordinated [[terrorism|terrorist]] bombings against the commuter train system of [[Madrid]], [[Spain]]  which killed 191 people and wounded 1,460 on the morning of March 11, 2004.  The [[Islam|Islamic]] group [[al Qaeda]] was responsible.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/europe/2004/madrid_train_attacks/default.stm</ref>

The 2004 Madrid train bombings (also known as 11/3 after the pattern of 9/11, but in European style) was a collection of coordinated [[terrorism|terrorist]] bombings against the commuter train system of [[Madrid]], [[Spain]]  which killed 191 people and wounded 1,460 on the morning of March 11, 2004.  The [[Islam]]ic group [[al Qaeda]] was responsible.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/europe/2004/madrid_train_attacks/default.stm</ref>

==The Attacks==

==The Attacks==

The attacks consisted of a series of ten explosions that occurred at the peak of the Madrid rush hour aboard four commuter trains. Thirteen improvised explosive devices were reported to have been used, all but three of which detonated.

The attacks consisted of a series of ten explosions that occurred at the peak of the Madrid rush hour aboard four commuter trains. Thirteen improvised explosive devices were reported to have been used, all but three of which detonated.

The attacks were the deadliest assault by a terrorist organization against civilians in Europe since the [[Lockerbie bombing]] in 1988 and the worst terrorist assault in modern Spanish history. The number of victims in this attack far surpassed Spain's previous worst bombing incident in Barcelona in 1987, which killed 21, carried out by the Basque armed terrorist group Euskadi Ta Askatasuna ("Basque Fatherland and Liberty").  Official statements issued shortly after the Madrid attacks identified ETA as the prime suspect, but the group, which usually claims responsibility for its actions, denied any wrongdoing. <ref>http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/11_March_2004_Madrid_train_bombings/id/1899201</ref>

The attacks were the deadliest assault by a terrorist organization against civilians in Europe since the [[Lockerbie bombing]] in 1988 and the worst terrorist assault in modern Spanish history. The number of victims in this attack far surpassed Spain's previous worst bombing incident in Barcelona in 1987, which killed 21, carried out by the Basque armed terrorist group Euskadi Ta Askatasuna ("Basque Fatherland and Liberty").  Official statements issued shortly after the Madrid attacks identified ETA as the prime suspect, but the group, which usually claims responsibility for its actions, denied any wrongdoing.<ref>http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/11_March_2004_Madrid_train_bombings/id/1899201</ref>

The explosions occurred during the morning rush hour, targeting a busy commuter rail line that runs just south of downtown Madrid. Four bombs (planted at the front, middle, and rear of a single train) exploded at 7:39 at Atocha station, and three bombs planted on a single train went off simultaneously just outside of Téllez street, near Atocha station. Two more bombs on one train detonated at 7:41 at El Pozo del Tío Raimundo station. One further bomb exploded on a train at Santa Eugenia station at 7:42. Most of the casualties occurred at Atocha/Téllez (89 confirmed dead) and El Pozo (70) with another 17 at Santa Eugenia.

The explosions occurred during the morning rush hour, targeting a busy commuter rail line that runs just south of downtown Madrid. Four bombs (planted at the front, middle, and rear of a single train) exploded at 7:39 at Atocha station, and three bombs planted on a single train went off simultaneously just outside of Téllez street, near Atocha station. Two more bombs on one train detonated at 7:41 at El Pozo del Tío Raimundo station. One further bomb exploded on a train at Santa Eugenia station at 7:42. Most of the casualties occurred at Atocha/Téllez (89 confirmed dead) and El Pozo (70) with another 17 at Santa Eugenia.

According to the FFI Muslim fundamentalism expert Thomas Hegghammer, the documents described in detail the tactics and strategies that were to be employed. The tactic was to break the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq by performing successive strikes on the co-operating member states, starting with the one which would most easily lose its resolve to keep its troops stationed in Iraq, and then following on with the rest. The Iraq war was very unpopular in Spain (around 90% refused to participate in this conflict), and so this would make a likely first target.

According to the FFI Muslim fundamentalism expert Thomas Hegghammer, the documents described in detail the tactics and strategies that were to be employed. The tactic was to break the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq by performing successive strikes on the co-operating member states, starting with the one which would most easily lose its resolve to keep its troops stationed in Iraq, and then following on with the rest. The Iraq war was very unpopular in Spain (around 90% refused to participate in this conflict), and so this would make a likely first target.

==See Also==

==See also==

* [[Essay:The coming Islamic Tet Offensive in Europe]]

* [[Essay:The coming Islamic Tet Offensive in Europe]]

* [[Islamic State]]

* [[Islamic State]]