Blogging from the Highlands of Scotland
'From fanaticism to barbarism is only one step' - Diderot

Thursday 11 March 2004

Madrid terrorist outrage - but who is responsible?

The Spanish authorities have quickly attributed these attacks to Basque separatist movement 'Eta', although the scale of the carnage (more than 173 fatalities and many hundreds injured - blood donations have been requested for upto 600 casualties), takes their previous activities to a whole new level, if true.

Whilst the Spanish authorities apparently have considerable expertise in monitoring the activities of domestic terrorists, it is also equally clear that this latest massacre is on a much larger scale than has ever been attempted before by Eta; it is also apparently in some respects not in character - for example, because Eta normally gives prior warning of imminent attacks. So perhaps the Spanish government is correct, specially as there is a general election scheduled this coming Sunday in Spain. However, there are doubts and until it is definitiely assigned to one group or another I prefer to keep an open mind on the matter.

UPDATE (11MAR 16.05): BBC News 24 is reporting 182 fatalities and at least 900 injured.

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