Hockey team heard bombs explode in Madrid

8.45am

The New Zealand men's hockey team were staying in a hotel within earshot of a series of blasts that killed 190 people in Madrid overnight.

The team had planned to celebrate qualifying for the Olympics after beating South Africa, when they heard a series of loud explosions during the morning rush hour, manager Arvin Jasmat said.

"Obviously we're hearing sirens throughout the day."

All players were safe, uninjured and planned to stay in their hotel and avoid public transport, Jasmat told National Radio today.

" We won't be venturing too far away from the hotel at all, and certainly not getting on any of the metros or the local railway systems... which is what the terrorists appear to be targeting."

Jasmat said they heard sirens early in the morning, and saw police and ambulances on the road outside their hotel.

He said most players had sent text messages or emails to their families and friends, "and if we can convey to all our families and friends back home that we are in good hands and we're not in the thick of the terrorist area and we're safe."

"If there was something that was going to make it worse, we would be out of there as soon as we can."

The New Zealand embassy had been in contact with the team, he said.

No New Zealanders so far are known to be among the dead or injured. The embassy in Madrid is urgently trying to contact about 80 New Zealand individuals or families known to be living or staying in the area where the explosions occurred.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman Jonathan Schwass said about half had so far responded, and the embassy staff were emailing and calling the remaining 40 or so.

Problems with cellphone and landline networks in Madrid made it difficult to get calls in and out of Spain, and within the country itself, he said.

However, the United States Embassy is planning a hospital check later today (tonight in Madrid) and had pledged to let the embassy know if it came across any New Zealanders, Mr Schwass said.

Spanish government sources said there was no doubt the attacks had been carried out by the armed Basque separatist group ETA, but security analysts said the attacks bore all the hallmarks of an al Qaeda operation.

New Zealand ambassador to Madrid Christine Bogle, who lives just a kilometre from where most blasts occurred, said it was the worst terrorist attack ever seen by Spain.

"I think everybody is very shocked, because although Spain is unfortunately a country that is used to terrorism, this is the worst that has ever happened in the way of terrorist attacks and people are just appalled."

Spanish authorities were making lists of the dead and injured, but "so far there do not appear to be any New Zealanders on those lists," she told National Radio.

Most New Zealanders who had been registered with the embassy had been in touch and were fine, she said. The embassy would continue checking.

Families and friends in New Zealand concerned about relatives should contact MFAT's consular division, which would forward the names straight onto the embassy, she said.

She said the extent of the attacks -- which killed 190 and injured 1247 at last count -- would deeply affect Madrid.

"This was a rush hour period, with people going to work on trains and so many, many others will have known somebody who was a victim."

The attacks tore through four packed commuter trains on Thursday morning's rush hour.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the 10 rush-hour blasts three days before Spain votes in a general election, but Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar's centre-right government blamed ETA.

An Interior Ministry source said the type of explosive was one commonly used by ETA. But the attack triggered fears in world financial markets that Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda could be behind it.

Despite the terrorist attacks, the New Zealand hockey team has decided to stay and complete the Olympic qualifying tournament in Madrid.

"They'll stay on. They're there until next Wednesday," said team manager Ramesh Patel, who returned home from Madrid yesterday.

Eighteen players and five management are still in Madrid, for a play-off for fifth-to-eighth places against Great Britain.

"They're qualified now, but I'm sure they'd like to finish off on a good note and finish fifth for the tournament, which would be great," he told NZPA.

It was also difficult to get tickets for flights out of Spain.

Mr Patel said the players had taken a walk outside today, and seen the effects of the bombing for the first time.

"They went for a walk this morning and that's when they started to see a little bit of the carnage ... they've been glued to the TV ever since, on the news items."

He said the players seemed "fine" despite being shaken by the nearby attacks.

"The enormity of it all will probably be sinking in to them at the moment... it might hit them a bit more now than it did earlier."

Players had sadly decided to give away their tickets to a Real Madrid soccer match, as it meant travelling by train.

"They won't have trouble getting rid of them, that's for sure, they're like hen's teeth over there."

The hotel was just 10 minutes away from the blasts at Atocha station.

Mr Patel said he had instructed the team to stay off all trains, and just stay around the hotel, until they catch the flight home next Wednesday.

Team captain Simon Towns said his players first became aware of what had happened when they were watching the morning news on television at their hotel.

"It was hard not to keep the TV on and we tended to this morning while we had a team meetings. In between that we were preparing for a game. You couldn't help but keep an eye on the TV to see what was eventuating."

Towns said the team did not feel in danger.

"We were far enough away not to feel as if we were in the middle of it," Towns told NZPA.

He said the team felt secure enough to have their normal morning walk.

"After breakfast we headed out for a walk to stretch our legs, as we do every morning, and there were police cars, ambulances and things racing up and down the road."

The chaos outside later led to muted celebrations of New Zealand's 3-2 win over South Africa, which confirmed their presence in Athens for the Games in August -- the first time the men's hockey team will play on that stage since 1992.

They spent the night following the win confined to their hotel.

"Management decided we should have a meal here. We haven't left the hotel. We decided to stay put here for a bit to see what eventuates.

"We definitely don't feel in danger. The New Zealand Hockey Federation have rung from home and said they could arrange to get us out of here.

"But we don't feel that's necessary."

- NZPA