FOURTEEN years after the Madrid train bombing which killed 192 people and injured thousands more, a memorial service is being held outside the city's central Atocha station.
Victims' associations, politicians, residents and various other organisations and societies are due to gather outside the monument built for those who lost their lives on March 11, 2004 when an al-Qaeda cell planted 11 bombs on commuter trains.
Weeks later, some of the terrorists blew themselves up in a flat in Leganés, Madrid, killing a GEO officer investigating them.
The worst act of terrorism in Spain's history – even outstripping the bloodthirsty attacks staged by the now-defunct Basque terror organisation ETA between the early 1970s and 2009 – claimed the lives of victims of 17 nationalities during the morning rush hour.
Spaniards were the most numerous, with 143 victims out of the total of 193.
Whilst 34 were killed instantly when a train exploded in Atocha station, another 63 lost their lives in a simultaneous blast on a train as it passed Madrid's C/ Téllez, another 65 at El Pozo station, and 14 at Santa Eugenia station.
This totalled 176 dead at the scene, whilst 15 of the injured died within hours, days or weeks at various hospitals in Madrid.
The recorded death toll of 191 went up three weeks later to 192 when police officer Francisco Javier Torronteras was killed in the Leganés apartment blast provoked by seven suicide bombers linked to the train attack.
Finally, in 2014, the number of fatal victims rose to 193 after one of the injured parties died following 10 years in a coma.
At least 1,000 people were injured to varying degrees, ranging from cuts and bruises and broken bones through to loss of one or several limbs.
The tribute acts this morning started at 09.00 in the Puerta del Sol square outside the commemorative plaque for the victims, injured, and those who helped with the rescue operations – ordinary members of the public as well as the emergency services.
Regional president Cristina Cifuentes, mayoress of Madrid Manuela Carmena, and MP Concepción Dancausa, along with the Terrorism Victims' Foundation chairwoman Mari Mar Blanco will preside over the homage.
All the church bells in the Greater Madrid region will toll for five solid minutes from 09.00 in memory of those whose lives were scarred forever or lost.
Another tribute act, led by Madrid's representatives of major unions including the Labourers' Commissions (CCOO), General Workers' Union (UGT) and Actors' and Actresses' Union, plus the Association of 11-M Terrorism Victims will take place at Atocha station at 10.00.
The nationwide Association of Victims of Terrorism (AVT) will stage their usual annual homage at noon in Madrid's El Retiro Park, across the road from Atocha, where chairman Alfonso Sánchez will read a manifesto, shaded by the 191 cipress and olive trees planted for each of those who perished at the immediate scene and which is known as the Bosque del Recuerdo ('Memory Forest').
Authorities present will include embassy staff, interior minister Juan Ignacio Zoido and, probably, central government president Mariano Rajoy, together with emergency services and relatives and friends of those who died.
Later, memorial services will be held at Santa Eugenia station at 18.00 and at El Pozo station at 19.00, organised by the Association of 11-M Terrorism Victims and several local societies and groups.
In keeping with Spanish tradition for dates of major natural and man-made disasters and significant dates of political or societal importance, the terrorist attacks of March 11, 2004 are recorded as the date and first initial of the month, or as '11-M'.
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