The number of casualities continues to rise.
According to the BBC, latest figures are that 131 people have been killed by the bombs, but Spanish emergency services warn that the figure could rise further. At least 500 people have been injured and Madrid's hospitals, swamped with casualties, have made an urgent appeal for blood donations. Spanish speakers can read latest developments on main news websites, for example Cadena Ser and El Mundo. All web sites, radio stations and television channels are dedicating full-time coverage to today's tragedy. And although the whole theme of ETA has dominated the election campaign over the past month, nobody expected a massive tragedy on this scale. All political parties have cancelled their scheduled meetings. The images on the television are horrific. What a mad, barbaric act.