Who Burned Burn Madrid?

By Michael Ferguson

On March 11, 2004, a series of terrorist attacks shook the city of Madrid, Spain. Ten bombs exploded during the morning rush hour on four trains heading towards Atocha Station.

The attacks claimed the lives of 191 people and injured more than 2,000 others. The bombings were later attributed to a group of Islamist extremists.

However, while the identities of those responsible for the attacks are known, there is still a question that remains unanswered: Who burned Burn Madrid?

The phrase “quien quemó Madrid” (who burned Madrid) was first used by one of the survivors of the March 11 attacks. In an interview with Spanish newspaper El Mundo, Pilar Manjón said that she wanted to know who was responsible for not preventing the bombings from happening.

Manjón’s sentiment was echoed by many others who felt that there were serious flaws in the Spanish government’s response to the attacks. Some even went so far as to suggest that there may have been a conspiracy to cover up what really happened.

One theory put forward by some is that the Spanish government was somehow involved in the attacks, either directly or indirectly. This theory gained traction in some circles due to what was perceived as inconsistencies in the official version of events.

For example, it was initially believed that ETA, a Basque separatist group, was responsible for the bombings. However, this theory was quickly debunked when evidence emerged linking Islamist extremists to the attack.

Another area of concern for some is how quickly and decisively authorities moved to blame Islamist extremists for the attack. Some have suggested that this may have been an attempt to deflect attention away from any potential involvement by Spanish intelligence agencies.

Despite these doubts and theories, however, there has been no concrete evidence put forward to support them. The investigation into the March 11 attacks was one of Spain’s largest and most complex ever undertaken and involved hundreds of police officers and intelligence agents. The final report, released in 2007, concluded that Islamist extremists were indeed responsible for the attacks.

In the end, the question of “who burned Burn Madrid” remains a tantalizing and unresolved one. While it’s natural to want to know all the details of such a tragic event, it’s important not to give in to unfounded conspiracy theories or speculation. The truth of what happened on March 11, 2004, may never be fully known, but what is clear is that it was a tragedy that touched many lives and left scars that will never fully heal.