At least 170 dead in Madrid rail blasts

At least 170 people are known to have died in Madrid this morning following bombs blasts at several railway stations in the city. Hundreds more have been injured in the explosions, which took place during the city’s morning rush-hour. According to the BBC News website, the biggest blast, which is believed to have killed at least 30 people, was on a train pulling into Atocha station, in the middle of the city. Two other rail stations in Madrid, Santa Eugenia and El Pozo, were also hit by explosions, which reportedly took place almost simultaneously. The Spanish interior ministry reportedly stated that five hours after the blast, the death toll stood at 173, with more than 600 injured. No organisation has claimed responsibility for the blasts, though the Spanish government is already blaming the terror organisation Eta, which was though to be organising a campaign in the run-up to a general election at the weekend. The British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has condemned the violence, describing the explosions as a “disgusting atrocity” and “an assault on the very principle of European democracy”, though the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not yet updated its advice for travellers to Spain. Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad