Tragedy in Spain

[Elvellon]

Today a tragedy happened in Madrid; as you can see here, a terrorist attack killed at least 173 people, and several hundreds more were wounded. The perpetrators of this vile act are still unknown. I would like to express my condolences to the Spanish people, and especially to Fatmiddle and any other Mooters from Spain, I hope you and your family are well.

Elvellon

[Fat middle]

Originally posted by Elvellon
Today a tragedy happened in Madrid; as you can see here, a terrorist attack killed at least 173 people, and several hundreds more were wounded. The perpetrators of this vile act are still unknown. I would like to express my condolences to the Spanish people, and especially to Fatmiddle and any other Mooters from Spain, I hope you and your family are well.

Elvellon

Thank you Elvellon. I'm well and also all my relatives in Madrid, but everybody here is very shocked for what have happened.

I still do not know how to express my indignation. We have always dealt with terrorism through the legal basis of a democratic system (since 1975) and now we have this. People is debating wheter this politic have been the best or not...

BTW, I do not think there never had been another mooter from Spain.

[Artanis]

Originally posted by Fat middle
I'm well and also all my relatives in Madrid

Ooops, didn't know you have relatives there. I'm glad they're ok, at least.

We have always dealt with terrorism through the legal basis of a democratic system (since 1975) and now we have this. People is debating wheter this politic have been the best or not...

How would they like it to be then?

BTW, I do not think there never had been another mooter from Spain.

Christiana was from Spain, wasn't she? Haven't seen her around for months though.

[sun-star]

I don't know what to say. This is such a terrible thing to happen

[Falagar]

Not sure what to say either...really tragic

I still do not know how to express my indignation. We have always dealt with terrorism through the legal basis of a democratic system (since 1975) and now we have this. People is debating wheter this politic have been the best or not...

I'm interested, do the people in Basque (name?) want to be separated or is it just these small groups?

[Jonathan]

I heard about this tragedy earlier, when new reports about the number of people lilled kept coming in
If the Eta separatists are behind this terrorist act (does anyone doubt that?), it will be the bloodiest attack in their history.

[Fat middle]

Originally posted by Artanis
How would they like it to be then?

Well, many people use to remember one thing that happened some years ago (about 15 or so) in Gibraltar. I don't know what rest of truth there lies in this story, mind you. I'm just going to tell the popular belief about it: the fact is that some terrorists of IRA were shot by the Brits police in Gibraltar. What the people say is that the police shot first and then ask if they were terrorists...

They use this story and some similar ones to say that we should be less "democratic" and use more often the force against terrorism.

Christiana was from Spain, wasn't she? Haven't seen her around for months though.

ooops, I didn't know.

[Tessar]

Oh no . That's terrible.

Why the hell do people DO things like that?

[Fat middle]

Originally posted by Falagar
Not sure what to say either...really tragic

I'm interested, do the people in Basque (name?) want to be separated or is it just these small groups?

I cannot say for certain what's the percentage of independants, but Batasuna (the party that supports ETA) has 7 out of 75 members in the Basque Parlliament.

There are 2 other parties that want more auto-government, and although they don't want to break from Spain right now, they would probably like to get independant in the future, although they do not support the violence. They have 33 members in the parlament.

So, right now we can say that there is a majority of nationalists in their parlament (although not all them are properly independentists). However this is the first time they get a majority.

Since they control the educational system in their region, I think that in the future they will have a greater majority.

[Insidious Rex]

ok Im moving this over here since theres now a thread for it:


quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Fat middle
Yuo're right. Although the Basque Country is formed by a little region in the North of Spain and in the South of France they only attack us. Don't know why.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Well I think that stems to the treatment they got by Franco. And has lingered ever since. But from what I understand they were just about marginalized. It seems amazing to me that they could have organized and succeeded in such a colossaly horrific attack. i mean this was just horrible. and they certainly would know it would undermine them even further in the eyes of all spaniards. so im really curious as to if it was really them. is there a possibility they may have colluded with outside terrorists? perhaps they figured they shared a common goal with a group like al-quaeda of undermining the current ruling body in spain who very much supported the iraq invasion.

[Twista]

Originally posted by Tessar

Why the hell do people DO things like that?

Usually just to prove that they can. Pathetic...

[Katie of the Golden Wood]

On CNN Headline News they are reporting that ETA is behind it and a car was discovered that they believe was behind it. There were tapes of the Qu'ran inside as well as explosives.

I'm really sorry everyone, especially Fat Middle. I don't really know what to say.

Katie

[Artanis]

Originally posted by Fat middle
They use this story and some similar ones to say that we should be less "democratic" and use more often the force against terrorism.

So, they want to skip court and trial, is that it? Though it is understandable in the heat of the moment right now, I sincerely hope that isn't a common opinion when things have calmed down a bit ... because then the terrorists would have succeded to make a blow against democracy and justice.

Just groping into memory, but didn't the Spanish police/intelligence reveal a planned massive terrorist attack right before Christmas? Did they find out who planned that one?

[Insidious Rex]

Originally posted by Katie of the Golden Wood
On CNN Headline News they are reporting that ETA is behind it and a car was discovered that they believe was behind it. There were tapes of the Qu'ran inside as well as explosives.

so they planted all that there to make it look like a foriegn group? im a little confused here. last time i checked the basque arent muslims are they?

EDIT: Just looked at a report on it and it said that the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades have taken responsibility. This is the same group that bombed the two synagogues in Turkey and bombed the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad last August. So I dont think the ETA was involved at all. Unless they helped somehow.

[Fat middle]

No, they aren't. They're catholics as the rest of Spain.

It seems that Al-Qaeda has claimed authorship of the attack. Thy've sent a message to a London newspaper saying "Aznar: where is America, who will protect you from us? Great Britain, Italy, Japan?" Aznar is our President.

Anyway, everybody thinks that ETA is also behind it. They have shared terrorist training camps and may be collaborating in this.

Arty, you're right, last Christmas our police aborted a terrorist attack planned by ETA that seemed very similar to this. Also last week the police intercepted 500 kg. of explosives that were being issued to Madrid. In both cases ETA terrorists were caught. That's why everybody thinks they're in it. But as IR has said it'd be very foolish of them to say it openly, because nobody would understand.

As for the potential of ETA to organize an attack like this, I'm sur they can even without the help of Al-Qaeda.

[Nerdanel]

I'm really sorry for all people in Spain; my thoughts are with you.

[The Gaffer]

Today they seem to be saying it's most likely to be ETA.

Over a thousand people injured. Today they will start to release the names of the dead.

What a hellish experience for those people and for everyone in Spain.

[Linaewen]

Originally posted by Fat middle
That's why everybody thinks they're in it. But as IR has said it'd be very foolish of them to say it openly, because nobody would understand.

I see, is that why they're not claiming responsibilty for it like they always did?

I saw footage of lines of black bags containing the bodies of the killed, and of wounded people. It was saddening. Deepest condolences for those affected.

[Artanis]

Originally posted by Linaewen
I see, is that why they're not claiming responsibilty for it like they always did?

Whoever is responsible, I think the silence is part of the strategy. The uncertainty as to who did it is effectively increasing people's fear and feeling of impotency.

[Rían]

I've been out of town, but I've been thinking of you, FM, since I heard the tragic news. I'm glad to hear you and your family are fine, and I add my sincere condolences to all the ones already given.

Cowards, cowards, cowards - to kill like that

I'm so sorry