Madrid bombings remembered - 12.03.2010

A HEART-RENDING 192 people died and more than 2,000 were injured six years ago yesterday(Thursday) in the Madrid Train Bombings, carried out by Islamic radicals.

Several events took place to mark the atrocities on the commuter trains heading to Atocha station.

Esperanza Aguirre, PP leader of the Madrid region, placed a reef in remembrance in the Puerta del Sol at 9am.

Madrid City Hall also saw councillors from the political parties placing flowers on the monument to the victims at Atocha at 10am, and at 11am in the Ateneo.

Union leaders and actress Pilar Bardem organised a further event, while another one was held in El Retiro Park after noon.

Congress paid its respects at 12.30pm with a reading of the universal declaration of human rights, and King Juan Carlos met some of the victims at the Zarzuela Palace in the evening.


A total of 28 people, mainly from North Africa, went on trial in 2007, and 21 of them were convicted of taking part in the morning rush-hour bombings, ranked as Europe’s worst Islamic terror attack.
The monument to the victims, a circular glass tower at Atocha station, has received well over one million visitors since it opened two years ago.

Meanwhile, an Ecuadorian woman, Lorena Candelario, who was never on the trains or injured, has been living a lie since 2004.
She has received Spanish Nationality, public housing and several thousand euros in compensation, as well as a medal.


Her case has now been put in the hands of the Attorney General by the Ministry for the Interior.