Powerful explosions rocked three busy Madrid train stations on Thursday just three days before general elections, killing 172 rush-hour commuters and wounding nearly 600 in Spain's worst terrorist attack ever.
The government blamed the armed Basque separatist group ETA, but the leader of Batasuna, an outlawed Basque party linked to the armed separatist group, denied it was behind the blasts and suggested "Arab resistance" elements were responsible.
Bombs exploded around 0730 local time (0630 GMT) in a commuter train arriving at Atocha station, a bustling hub for subway, commuter and long-distance trains in Spain's capital.
Blasts also rocked trains or platforms at two stations on a commuter line leading to Atocha.
Officials said there were 13 blasts altogether.
Shards of twisted metal were scattered by rails in the Atocha station.
People in tears streamed away from the station as rescue workers carried bodies covered in sheets of gold fabric.
People with bloodied faces sat on curbs, using mobile phones to tell loved ones they were alive.
Hospitals appealed for blood donations and buses were pressed into service as ambulances.
Rescue workers were overwhelmed, said one ambulance driver who went to Santa Eugenia station, about 10 kilometres (six miles) southeast of
Atocha.
The government blamed the armed Basque separatist group ETA, but the leader of Batasuna, an outlawed Basque party linked to the armed separatist group, denied it was behind the blasts and suggested "Arab resistance" elements were responsible.
Bombs exploded around 0730 local time (0630 GMT) in a commuter train arriving at Atocha station, a bustling hub for subway, commuter and long-distance trains in Spain's capital.
Blasts also rocked trains or platforms at two stations on a commuter line leading to Atocha.
Officials said there were 13 blasts altogether.
Shards of twisted metal were scattered by rails in the Atocha station.
People in tears streamed away from the station as rescue workers carried bodies covered in sheets of gold fabric.
People with bloodied faces sat on curbs, using mobile phones to tell loved ones they were alive.
Hospitals appealed for blood donations and buses were pressed into service as ambulances.
Rescue workers were overwhelmed, said one ambulance driver who went to Santa Eugenia station, about 10 kilometres (six miles) southeast of
Atocha.
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