Madrid bombs kill 192, purported al Qaeda claim

1.00pm UPDATE

MADRID, Spain - Simultaneous bomb blasts ripped through four packed commuter trains in Madrid Thursday, killing 192 people and injuring 1,421 in Europe's bloodiest guerrilla attack for more than 15 years.

Spain focused blame on the Basque separatist group ETA, but a purported al Qaeda letter claimed responsibility for the 10 blasts and said a big attack on the United States was nearly ready, triggering fresh jitters in world financial markets.

As pictures were beamed around the globe of the carnage, in which people including a baby were torn to shreds, France said it would raise its terror alert level and Greece, host of the Olympic Games in August, also stepped up security measures.

After initially blaming ETA outright for the attack, three days before Spain's general election, Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar's government said a stolen van had been found near Madrid carrying seven detonators and an Arabic tape of Koran verses.

"The conclusion of this morning that pointed to (ETA) right now is still the main line of investigation... (But) I have given the security forces instructions not to rule out anything," Interior Minister Angel Acebes told reporters.

No authentication was available on the purported al Qaeda letter, a copy of which was faxed to Reuters by the London-based al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper. The letter was attributed to the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades, a group that aligns itself to al Qaeda.

A US official who declined to be identified said the group had made false claims in the past.

"We have succeeded in infiltrating the heart of crusader Europe," the letter said, calling the attack "Operation Death Trains."

"We bring the good news to Muslims of the world that the expected 'Winds of Black Death' strike against America is now in its final stage," it added.

US intelligence agencies said it was too early to say who was responsible for the train bombs but saw the hallmarks of both ETA and al Qaeda, which has threatened to attack countries such as Spain that supported the US-led war in Iraq.

The Basque party Batasuna, accused by officials of being part of ETA, said it "absolutely rejected" the bombings at three Madrid train stations and was convinced ETA was not responsible.

"The train was cut open like a can of tuna," ambulance driver Enrique Sanchez said at Atocha station. "We didn't know who to treat first. There was a lot of blood, a lot of blood."

Passenger Ana Maria Mayor's voice cracked as she told reporters: "I saw a baby torn to bits."

Aznar called on Spaniards, who have protested in millions against past attacks by ETA, to take to the streets Friday.

His center-right government declared three days of national mourning and said schools, museums and the central bank would shut. King Juan Carlos made a somber television address.

Spanish newspapers rushed out special editions with headlines such as "Massacre in Madrid" or "Our 9/11" and pictures of bloodied passengers and wrecked trains.

People lit candles in Madrid for the victims. Vigils were held elsewhere in Spain and thousands gathered in the Basque region's capital Vitoria, some shouting "Murderers" at premier Juan Jose Ibarretxe.

PROTESTS

In Barcelona, thousands banged pots and pans, saying they were protesting against Aznar's support for the Iraq war because they said it had made Spain an al Qaeda target.

"We see a link between the Spanish state and its policy of intervention in Iraq with al Qaeda," said Manuel Fernandez, 25.

ETA (Euskadi ta Askatasuna) has killed around 850 people since 1968 in its fight for a separate Basque homeland in northwest Spain and southwest France, and has been branded a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union.

The Basque group's most deadly confirmed attack killed 21 people at a supermarket in Barcelona in 1987.

Thursday's death toll was the biggest in a guerrilla attack in Europe since December 1988, when a bomb exploded on a Pan American Boeing 747, bringing it down on the Scottish town of Lockerbie. In all, 270 people died.

Many political analysts said that if ETA was responsible for the attack it would favor Aznar's Popular Party in Sunday's general election because of its hard line against the group.

"If, however, the rumors about al Qaeda gain credence, then things would be perceived in a very different way," said pollster Julian Santamaria. Aznar defied main opposition parties and huge public anti-war sentiment to back the Iraq war.

President Bush joined other world leaders in condemning the bombings, as did the UN Security Council.

European shares suffered their worst fall of 2004 as the attack, combined with fears about economic recovery, spooked investors. In the United States, the Dow Jones industrial average closed down 1.64 per cent.

- REUTERS