The 2004 Spain train bombings were a series of coordinated attacks that occurred on March 11, 2004. On that day, 10 bombs in backpacks and other small bags exploded on four commuter trains, killing 193 people and wounding more than 1,800. One bomb did not explode and was defused. The police also conducted controlled explosions of three other bombs.

Investigation and Arrests

Initially, the Spanish government suspected that the Basque group ETA and al Qaeda were responsible for the bombings. However, ETA denied involvement through anonymous phone calls to Basque media outlets. Later, Islamic militants who were based in Spain but inspired by al Qaeda were identified as the prime suspects.

Several arrests were made in connection with the bombings, including five people who were detained 60 hours after the attacks. The suspects were linked to the investigation through prepaid phone cards and a cell phone found at the bombing site. More arrests followed, including the detention of four North Africans and a Spanish citizen.

In the months that followed, numerous suspects were charged and tried in connection with the bombings. In 2007, three men were found guilty of the most serious charges and sentenced to thousands of years in prison, although they would only serve 40 years under Spanish law.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.