Spain remembers this Monday in more than 190 dead about the jihadist attack on March 11, 2004, when 20 years of the deadliest terrorist attack in historywhich caused great social but also political trauma.

Twenty years ago, March 11, 2004, Madrid suffered the largest attack recorded in Europe. Ten bombs that exploded that day killed 192 people – the 193rd victim was a policeman who died a month later in a house bombing carried out by several terrorists; More than 2,000 people were injured.

March 11 is European Day for Victims of Terrorism. It was installed in memory of the victims of Madrid. and not only Spain, but also Europe will pay them tribute.

The attack occurred early in the morning in the city. several Cercanías trains in the Spanish capital which carried hundreds of workers and students.

The European Commission chose Madrid for the anniversary this year. The ceremony, which will include Felipe VI and Pedro Sánchez, among other government officials, will also allow testimonies from victims and survivors to be heard. “Their voices are powerful and necessary in the fight against terrorism and radicalization,” As emphasized in the statement of the European Commission.

In addition, the Association of Victims of Terrorism (AVT) will celebrate a funeral mass at Madrid’s La Almudena Cathedral. Afterwards, as every year, he will commemorate the 193 people who died in the 11M massacre in Madrid’s El Retiro park in the Forest of Memory and who They remember many other cypress and olive trees.

Shortly before this, the Association of Victims of Terrorism “11-M” will celebrate, like all anniversaries, event at Atocha station, the first scene of the terrorist attacks with the explosion of a convoy running on March 11, 2004, in which 34 people died.

63 people died before the next Calle Telles. The Retiro Central Park, located near Atocha, will also be the location chosen by this association to commemorate these victims.

In front of Santa Eugenia station, another site of the attacks that killed 14 people, another commemoration event will be held this afternoon. And later another one will happen in Uncle Raimundo Well, where did 65 people die?

Sixteen more died in hospitalsto which must be added the agent of the Special Operations Group (GEO) of the National Police, Francisco Javier Torronteras, who died on April 3, 2004 in an apartment bombing in the Madrid city of Leganes, where some terrorists burned themselves. . .

Warning: Vivid images, caution advised.

Chronology of events

On the morning of March 11, 2004 10 bombs planted on the Serkanias railway network exploded. At Atocha station, the first explosive device exploded at 7:37 (local time), followed moments later by two more bombs in the carriages of the same train.

Two bombs exploded at El Pozo station at 7:38, and another in Santa Eugenia. At 7:39, four more explosions were heard.on another train near Atocha station.

A trial for the attacks took place in 2007 in the National Court and 21 of the 29 accused were found guilty, although a year later the Supreme Court acquitted four of them and convicted another man. A total of 18 people were convicted for the events, of which 15 have now been released from prison and only José Emilio Suárez Trashorras, Jamal Zougham and Othman el-Ghnawywho received the longest prison sentences and will not be released until 2044, when they turn 40.

Judge Javier Gomez Bermudez found in his ruling that The attack was the work of an al-Qaeda-inspired jihadist group. and that his motive was Spain’s involvement in the 2003 Iraq War.

Despite the attacks, general elections took place a few days later, on 14 March. Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, The Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) defeated the candidate of the People’s Party (PP) in this election. Mariano Rajoy.

Following the attacks and in the days leading up to the elections, there was intense public outrage that resulted in demonstrations in front of the PP headquarters, government attempts José Maria Aznar connects these events with Basque ETA terrorism.

Subsequent investigations showed that from the first hours after the explosions the government had some elements indicating jihadist terrorism as an author of facts.

(according to information from EFE And Aristegui News)