Rail bomb not fully assembled

2004-04-02 17:33

Madrid - A bomb was found on Friday on a high-speed line between Madrid and Seville just three weeks after 191 people were killed in attacks on four Spanish commuter trains, officials said.

But reports that the device was similar to the explosives used in the March 11 bombings blamed on Islamic militants which also left 1 900 people injured were not immediately confirmed.

The Madrid train bombings sparked an outpouring of anger across Europe and forced governments onto the offensive, with EU leaders agreeing in emergency talks a series of measures to step up the fight against terrorism.

Spanish Interior Minister Angel Acebes announced the discovery of the new bomb on Friday, saying police were immediately alerted after a sack was found containing some 10kg of explosives and linked by a 136m cable to a detonator.

"It contained some 10 to 12kg of explosive which could be dynamite," said Acebes, adding explosives experts were immediately brought in to defuse the device.

Acebes was later to meet with Defence Minister Federico Trillo and security and army chiefs to discuss the latest threat to Spain, which comes despite the tightened security across the country in the wake of the March 11 bombings.

The Basque news agency Vasco Press, quoting sources close to the investigation, said the device found on Friday contained an explosive known as Goma 2 eco and had a copper detonator, which was similar to those used in the March 11 train bombings in Madrid.

But an interior ministry spokesperson would not confirm the report saying just it was "premature in that examination of the explosives is ongoing."

"We have not determined who was behind this attempt" to blow up a train, he added.

According to Vasco Press, the bomb had not been fully assembled and could not therefore have been activated.

Investigators believe the device was placed on the track some time after 07:30 when police carried out a search in line with heightened current security.

State railway company Renfe said it had halted all traffic on the route on the tracks between the small towns of Mocejon and Algodor in the central province of Toledo.

The package was found less than 24 hours after three letter bombs addressed to journalists at three media organisations in Madrid were intercepted at a postal sorting office in the northern city of Zaragoza.

Acebes said that although it was unknown who had sent the letters, it appeared the explosive device was similar to that used by a shadowy anarchist group.

- AFP