News and Document archive source
copyrighted material disclaimer at bottom of page

NewsMinecabal-eliteeuropean-unionmadrid-attack-march-2004 — Viewing Item


Aznar stands behind ETA link to madrid bombing

Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
   http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=almqEYvHXtc8&refer=europe

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=almqEYvHXtc8&refer=europe

Spain's Aznar Stands By Possible ETA Link to Madrid Bombings
Nov. 29 (Bloomberg) -- Spain's former prime minister, Jose Maria Aznar, today told a congressional inquiry he didn't rule out the involvement of the Basque terrorist group ETA in the March 11 train bombings that killed 191 people in Madrid.

``What I say is: Investigate,'' Aznar told the panel during proceedings in Madrid that were aired live by Spanish broadcasters. ``I don't have a theory'' on who was behind the attacks, he said. Links between prisoners from Islamic militant groups and ETA have emerged in recent months, including meetings between the two groups in jails, Aznar said.

Aznar, 51, was prime minister at the time of the bombings. His Popular Party lost the general election three days later amid accusations the government tried to steer suspicion toward ETA and away from Islamists to boost its election chances. Aznar's government supported the U.S.-led war in Iraq and sent troops to help with the occupation.

The day before the election, an Islamic militant group took responsibility for the attacks, blaming Spanish involvement in Iraq, and afterward a group of Islamic terrorism suspects blew themselves up rather than be captured by police.

Aznar denied trying to influence public opinion in the hours after the bombings.

``The government gave all the information and gave it in real time,'' he said.

A 16-year-old nicknamed ``El Gitanillo,'' or little gypsy, on Nov. 16 became the first of 19 suspects to go on trial in connection with the bombings. He was sentenced to six years in a youth detention center after pleading guilty to handling explosives.

ETA stands for Euskadi ta Askatasuna, or Basque Homeland and Freedom. The group has killed about 830 people since the late 1960s, when it began campaigning for an independent homeland in Basque-speaking areas of northern Spain and southwestern France.

Last Updated: November 29, 2004 08:16 EST


8m people march [jpg]
Accused ringleader of madrid bombing acquitted { September 2007 }
American citizen held for link to madrid bombing { May 6 2004 }
Anzar sowing confusion over madrid bombs { December 14 2004 }
Attacks 911 days after sept 11 01 { March 13 2004 }
Aznar stands behind ETA link to madrid bombing
Bomb case against oregon lawyer dropped { May 25 2004 }
British links of bombing suspect
Conflicting clues in bloody madrid bombings { March 12 2004 }
Death toll in madrid bombings rises to 198 { March 12 2004 }
Detonators mobile phones not common to eta { March 12 2004 }
Eta blamed from madrid blasts
Eta denies role in madrid bombings { March 12 2004 }
Eu calls emergency meetings on terrorism
Eurostocks sink 3 percent on madrid blasts
Five december explosions near madrid after eta warning
Flawed FBI 311 probe used secret warrant { April 7 2005 }
France increases border checks after spanish blasts { March 11 2004 }
Group claiming blast may not exist
Italy arrests egyptian bombing mastermind
Italy hands over madrid suspect
Madrdid train blasts kill at least 131 { March 11 2004 }
Madrid plot funded by drugs
Madrid suspects blow selves up
Madrid victims criticize schoolyard politics
Misidentified muslim detained for bombings compensated
Moraccan arrested in madrid has suspected alqaida ties { March 14 2004 }
Moroccan and indian accused deny madrid involvement
New madrid government to accelerate eu { March 16 2004 }
Officials still divided on whom to blame for bombings { March 13 2004 }
Police let bombers go on traffic stop
Portland attorney house searched without notice { May 25 2004 }
Protesters blame bombings government support of war
Responsbility by group who claimed eastcoast blackout
Socialists oust spains ruling party { March 15 2004 }
Spain announces five arrests in bombings
Spain arrests 13 suspects in 311 probe
Spain arrests 20 alleged islamist militants { December 2005 }
Spain bombings seen as europes 911 { March 12 2004 }
Spain maintains eta bomb suspect a day before elections
Spain unable to identify man on alqaida tape
Spain wants maximum power in eu says zapatero
Spais new leader says troops will leave iraq
Spanish bomb victims call for independent investigation
Spanish had prior knowledge of attack
String of explosions kills170 in spanish train system { March 11 2004 }
Suspects worked for spanish police { April 29 2004 }
Top 911 madrid suspect abu qatada under british protection
Two suspected eta members arrested last month with explosives { March 12 2004 }
Was it eta or alqaeda { March 12 2004 }

Files Listed: 50



Correction/submissions

CIA FOIA Archive

National Security
Archives
Support one-state solution for Israel and Palestine Tea Party bumper stickers JFK for Dummies, The Assassination made simple