Monica Sanchez Garcia

By Alan Fisher in Europe on May 2nd, 2011
Photo by AFP

In the middle of a roundabout, outside Atocha railway station in Madrid, there is a memorial to the dead and to the victims of Osama bin Laden.

It marks the day, March 11 2004, when death arrived at the station.

Bombs planted on an early morning commuter train exploded. The moment the flames and the horror ripped through the station was captured on CCTV - the scene made more chilling by the absence of sound.

There were three trains attacked that day.

The blasts from 10 backpacks filled with dynamite and nails killed 192 people and injured more than 1800.

The police slowly made the connections and it became clear to them that those responsible for the attacks were supporters and followers of bin Laden.  

Dead, dying and injured