AT THE SCENE: There were scenes of carnage in the centre of Madrid yesterday after a series of terrorist bombs that swept through three commuter trains in the early-morning rush hour, killing at least 186 people and wounding some 1,200, many of them critically.
It has been described as the worst terrorist atrocity on the ground in Europe since the end of the second World War.
The first three bombs went off shortly after 7.30 a.m. as the local train from the city of Guadalajara was entering Madrid's main Atocha station. Minutes later two other commuter trains on the same route were wrecked by similar explosions in nearby suburban stations. Police are looking for two young men who were seen getting on and off four trains at a station on the same line 30km from Madrid.
The trains were packed with workers and students travelling into Madrid from dormitory towns near the capital.
Maria and Carmen, two students on their way to classes in a nearby college, were lucky to escape shocked but unhurt from the explosion. They said: "We were in one of the front carriages when there was a jerk and a loud bang, and we all fell over. At first we thought one of the overhead cables had fallen on the train, but then we heard screaming and saw people covered in blood.
"Then someone managed to open a door, and we jumped down on to the track. We were afraid another train might come along and hit us, but we were able to climb on to the platform."
As emergency services rushed to the scene and security forces searched the area, half-a-dozen further devices exploded near Atocha station, and three more were defused in a controlled explosion by the bomb squad.
Campaigning for Sunday's election was immediately called off, although it will take place as planned, and three days of national mourning have been declared.
The Prime Minister, Mr José María Aznar, summoned his crisis cabinet attended by senior ministers and has called for nationwide demonstrations later this evening. Tens of thousands of Spaniards, possibly as many as a million, are expected to attend.
Mr Aznar, who has received calls of condolences and sympathy from world leaders, stressed the importance of international co-operation in the fight against terrorism.
Queen Sofia, Prince Felipe and his fiancée, Ms Letizia Ortiz, went to the main hospitals to visit the casualties and comfort the hundreds of families waiting for news of their relatives.
Although some Basques close to the terrorist movement Eta tried to blame Arab terrorists, possibly al-Qaeda, for the attacks, few had any doubt who was responsible. No one has yet claimed responsibility for the massacre, although Eta rarely admits to carrying out attacks for days or even weeks, and occasionally it never does.
It sometimes, but not always, issues warnings before murders or bombings. No warning was received yesterday.
"This carries all the hallmarks of Eta," said the Interior Minister, Mr Angel Acebes. He confirmed that the security forces had been aware that Eta has been trying to perpetrate an attack in Madrid for some time, particularly during the election campaign. The organisation has murdered politicians, military officers and judges and detonated car bombs in virtually every election since 1977.
"We foiled a similar attack on Christmas Eve when we detained two men carrying bags of explosives on a train travelling from San Sebastian to Madrid," Mr Acebes said. Only two weeks ago two other young Basques were stopped as they drove towards Madrid in a van containing more than 500kg of explosives. They have admitted that they had planned to detonate their bomb in Madrid, possibly near the offices of the right wing La Razón newspaper.
A special morgue has been established in the Juan Carlos exhibition and trade fair ground near Madrid airport. A team of forensic experts is working to try to identify the victims.