There is every indication that this attack was carried out by ETA.
This just isn't Al Qaeda's style, even though some of the media would have you believe it to be so.
They mention the Al Qaeda claim yet what they forget to tell you is that the same group which is claiming the Madrid atrocity is the one which claimed
responsibility for the US power cuts last year. The timing of the cliam is unique too.
ETA has the means, the will and the motive to carry out this attack. By shifting the blame to Al Qaeda they hope that an already war-weary Spanish
population will vote against Aznar's government in the national elections in 3 day's time.
Remember too that ETA was caught transporting truckloads of explosives to Madrid only last month.
news.bbc.co.uk...
"Two suspected members of Basque separatist group Eta have been arrested as they headed to Madrid in a truck laden with explosives.
Spanish police said they were arrested early on Sunday about 140km outside the Spanish capital, with 500kg of explosives hidden in the vehicle.
Government officials believe the men were planning an attack in the lead-up to Spain's general election."
And then possibly the most interesting bit which so far none of the media has reported in this case -
"At Christmas, Spanish authorities foiled a plot to blow up trains at a Madrid rail station."
[Edited on 12-3-2004 by Leveller]