INTERPOL offers full assistance to Spanish authorities following fatal bomb blasts

11 March 2004

Lyon, France -- INTERPOL Secretary General, Ronald K. Noble, on Thursday offered the full support of INTERPOL in the investigation surrounding the multiple bomb blasts in Madrid, Spain.

Immediately following this morning's attacks, the Secretary General spoke with INTERPOL President Jesús Espigares Mira. Both have condemned the terrorist attack in which nearly 200 people were killed.

INTERPOL's 24 hour Command and Co-ordination Centre has been tasked to treat all requests for information and assistance from INTERPOL's National Central Bureau in Madrid with the highest priority, in order to support the Spanish investigation.

Officers in the Criminal Analysis Unit are examining all INTERPOL databases to determine whether any links can be drawn between this terrorist act and other incidents around the world.

The Secretary General also authorised the mobilisation of INTERPOL's Incident Response Team in order to assist the National Central Bureau in Madrid.

Members of the Disaster Victim Identification network, with experts from INTERPOL's 181 member countries, are also ready and available to travel to Madrid to help local authorities identify victims.

Mr Noble said: 'I have contacted Mr Agustín Díaz de Mera, the head of the Spanish National Police to offer every support to the Spanish authorities'.

'Since 11 September 2001, INTERPOL has underlined that the global fight against terrorism is not only against al-Qaeda, but against each and every group which chooses to murder, injure and threaten hundreds if not thousands of innocent people'.

'For decades Spain has been combating terrorism, not only against ETA but all terrorist groups, and today's attacks demonstrate why we all must redouble our efforts in this worldwide fight'.

'Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those killed or injured in today's attacks'.