A series of explosions in Madrid this morning that killed as many as 186 people and wounded more than 1,000 did not affect any Syracuse University students or faculty from the university’s program there, according to DIPA officials.

W. Flint Smith, director of the Department of International Programs Abroad Madrid Center, said all students were contacted either in person or by phone, as were all teachers and faculty associated with the Madrid center. Smith stressed that no one, including friends and acquaintances of those at the DIPA Center was directly affected in any way. The SU program includes about 200 students from several universities and 70 faculty and staff.

‘Our first reaction is shock and empathy for the victims and their families, then anger at the perpetrators, reportedly by the Basque separatist group, ETA, who so little value or respect human life, peace and tranquillity,’ Smith said in a statement sent to students and administrators.

The bombing took place at 8:00 a.m. Madrid time at a major southern train station well away from the SU center. Three bombs were placed on a commuter train carrying mostly those traveling from outlying towns south of Madrid to work in the city. At least two bombs were also placed in undetermined locations near or in the station.

The Spanish government has pinned the blame for the bombings on the Basque separatist terrorist organization ETA. This would be the largest attack perpetrated by the group in its history. The attack comes just days before Spain’s presidential elections, leading many to believe the group is stepping up its efforts to gain more autonomy for the Northern Basque region of Spain.

‘All of us were affected greatly,’ Smith said from his Madrid office. ‘This is a tense moment because of the elections.’

After a briefing session this morning which 90-100 students attended, classes have resumed as normal, Smith said. Students were offered the option of foregoing their classes, but they seem to be handling the situation well, he added. Transportation in the city is running smoothly, he added, though security in the surrounding areas is ‘intense.’

‘We have the best emergency and communications plan in Madrid,’ said Elena Granger Carrassco, an advisor at the DIPA office in Syracuse. The center is located across from a major police station, and the area undergoes two security sweeps daily to ensure the safety of the center, Smith said.

Transportation around the city is now considerably slower, which has affected the travel plans of some students from SU’s centers in London and Florence, who are now on spring break. Today was SU Madrid’s last day of midterm examinations, all of which have gone ahead despite the attack.

‘Students responded correctly and with maturity,’ Smith said. ‘They are going on with their lives.’

Published on March 10, 2004 at 12:00 pm