trains blown up in spain - many dead, page-37

and costic regards the train tragedy here is what a muslim group claiming responsibility says;

A statement attributed to Al Qaeda and sent to a London-based newspaper has claimed responsibility for a series of deadly bombings in Madrid.

Ten simultaneous blasts ripped through four packed commuter trains at peak hour, killing 190 people and injuring 1,247 others.

The letter, which called the attacks "Operation Death Trains", was sent to the Al-Quda Al-Arabi newspaper.

"We have succeeded in infiltrating the heart of crusader Europe and struck one of the bases of the crusader alliance," it said.

There was no way of authenticating the letter, a copy of which was faxed to Reuters's office in Dubai by the newspaper.

The letter bore the signature "Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades/Al Qaeda".

The newspaper received similar letters from the same brigade claiming responsibility on behalf of Al Qaeda for a November bombing of two synagogues in Turkey and the August bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad.

Dave R.