11 March 2004 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert today condemned the bombing of a train
station in Spain’s capital, Madrid, killing over a hundred people.

“The Philippines condemns in the strongest possible terms, this dastardly and cowardly attack against
innocent civilians.  We share with the rest of the world a deep sense of outrage by this terrorist attack,” the Secretary said from Ankara, Turkey, where she is currently on an official visit.  “Our Embassy in Madrid has reported that 150 people have been confirmed killed and over 400 injured,” she said.

‘We would like to convey to the people and government of Spain our deepest sympathies for their loss.  We
hope that those injured will recover safely and that the perpetrators of this terrorist attack will be brought to justice,” the Secretary added.

The Secretary said that she has instructed the Philippine Embassy in Madrid to take every action to ascertain if any Filipinos were hurt or killed in the bombings.  “While we hope and pray that all our 20,000 Filipinos in Madrid are safe, we will exert every effort to ascertain if any of our countrymen were affected by these attacks.  Our Embassy in Madrid is working closely with Spanish authorities and with the Filipino Community in Madrid and we are ready for every contingency.  We have sent our people to hospitals and the temporary relief centers to find out if there were any Filipinos in the blasts,” the Secretary said.

News reports said two bombs exploded in a commuter train arriving at Atocha train station in Madrid. Two other stops leading to Atocha were also rocked by explosions.

“We stand by the brave people of Spain at this hour of grief and sorrow,” Secretary Albert said. END.