Madrid bombs spook US pals

2004-03-14 19:11

Madrid - The spectre of Al-Qaeda involvement has prompted Spain's neighbours, the United States and allies in the Iraq occupation to boost security measures.

Britain was reportedly considering deploying undercover "train marshals" on its rail network, while Australian police said they believed it was only a matter of time before their country was targeted for an attack.

Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio said on Sunday the country was still investigating the possibility of whether ETA had collaborated with Al-Qaeda.

"I would say that anything is possible in this dark, dark world of terrorists," said Palacio when asked on BBC television if the two groups might have "combined" to carry out the attack.

ETA has denied any responsibility for the attacks.

As the investigation into the bombings continued, Interior Minister Angel Acebes told a news conference a video with an Al-Qaeda claim of responsibility was found a rubbish bin near a Madrid mosque after a man with an Arab accent tipped off a city television channel late on Saturday.

Spanish officials were also interrogating five suspects, three of them Moroccans and two Indians, arrested late on Saturday based on clues found in a bag containing a bomb that failed to go off on Thursday.

Moroccan Communications Minister Nabil Benabdellah identified the three Moroccans being detained on Sunday as Jamal Zugam, 30, Mohammad Bekkali, 31 and Mohammad Shawi, 35.

He said a "high-level security delegation" had gone to Madrid to assist the investigation.

Pope John Paul II told thousands in Saint Peter's Square that the Madrid attacks had shocked the world and were an offence to God.

"Before so much barbarity, we remain profoundly shaken, and wonder how the human spirit can conceive of such detestable actions," he said.

- AFP