The terrorist’s bombs exploded within minutes of each other, murdering 192 Spaniards in four different trains on the Atocha-Alcala line the morning of March 11, 2004. Thirteen years after the Madrid bombing, terrorists have driven a van through a crowd of people in Barcelona.
Details are forthcoming. According to reports, at least three people have died and dozens more are injured. More than anything, Spain will need prayer as it faces this horror, particularly prayers for courage.
After the 2004 attack, the Spanish people rallied against terrorism in the streets. They then marched to the polls and voted for the socialist party of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. His party had campaigned for retreating from the war on terror and, true to his word, Zapatero withdrew Spanish troops from Iraq shortly after his victory.
“We are giving birth to a new world, and it is sad and dangerous and sick,” said departing foreign minister Ana Palacio. “We are giving a signal to terrorists that they can have their way because we have given in.”
Tragically. it seems that’s exactly what happened in Spain in 2004 and what could happen again in 2017. As my colleague Tom Rogan writes, the Islamic State and al Qaeda have increased activity in the country, using it as a staging ground and a European hideaway. Clearly the rallies and demonstrations of 13 years ago didn’t ferret out the extremists.
In the face of this developing evil, the only answer for Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s government is unity, courage, and strength. Otherwise the terror will spread from Madrid and Barcelona to the rest of the Iberian peninsula.
Philip Wegmann is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
