2004 Madrid train bombings

Survivors on changes in attitudes to Muslims after Madrid bombings

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• published: 30 Jul 2015
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8 March 2006 AP TELEVISION ++EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: LAURA JIMENEZ HAS NOT AGREED TO BROADCAST HER INTERVIEW IN THE SPANISH TERRITORY++ 1. Victim of attack Laura Jimenez in wheelchair in kitchen 2. Laura prepares drink 3. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Laura Jimenez: "The only thing I want, everyday, is to get a little bit more of quality of life. I am still learning to live with this day to day, getting used to the wheelchair. You think� that it was over 2 years ago, but it takes a lot to recover the things that you lost in a minute." 4. Laura with her mother in kitchen 5. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Laura Jimenez: "For example this Christmas I was in a shopping centre full of people. I saw three Muslims. I thought to myself and what if they plant a bomb. You always have it in the back of your mind." 6. Close up Laura's face 7. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Laura Jimenez: "I don't think I've become more racist, but my family at the beginning (after the attack) yes, but with time their feelings are softening." FILE 2004 AP TELEVISION 8. Various aftermath of bomb attack in El Pozo station station - train wreckage, bodies covered with blankets, flowers left at site 8 March 2006 AP TELEVISION - AP CLIENTS ONLY 9. Exterior central mosque (Centro Cultural Islamico) 10. Interior mosque 11. Mosque Spokesman Mohamed El Afifi talks to Spanish students 12. SOUNDBITE (English) Mohamed el Afifi Mohamed, Spokesman Madrid Central Mosque "The Muslim community, we can say we did not suffer hard attacks from the Spanish people after March 11th. We suffered another type of situation that we didn't have before March 11. The confidence between the Spanish people and the Muslim society is not now as before, it is not so easy now for a Muslim person to find work." 13. Close up teenagers in Mosque 14. SOUNDBITE (English) Alberto Moncada, Writer and Sociologist "Racism has increased amongst the youngsters. Public (state) schools in Spain are for poor people and immigrants and they are very crowded. So the youngsters, the kids, are little more racist than their parents, they are less cool. We have seen some incidents at this level. The police are trying to cool this situation. I think probably that this will disappear." 15. Street in Lavapies district, Madrid 16. Mid shop fronts ("Tangiers Islamic Butchers" and "Bahia (bay) Bazar" from Morocco) 17. Wide of Atocha Station 18. Mid of Atocha Station sign STORYLINE: Two years on from the Madrid train attacks that killed 191 people and sent shock waves around the world, the 1500 victims and their families continue fighting to recover their lives. After the attacks many feared a backlash against Spain's Muslim community. While no backlash happened but attitudes have changed and people have become more suspicious of Muslims. Thirty-year old Laura Jimenez, is now confined to a wheelchair after one of the 10 bombs that hit the four commuter trains destroyed her spine, lungs and face; it also took away her unborn baby. "I am still learning to live with this day to day, getting used to the wheelchair," Laura says. "It was over 2 years ago, but it takes a lot to recover the things that you lost in a minute." Laura doesn't consider herself racist but admits her feelings towards foreigners - specially Muslims - have changed. "For example this Christmas I was in a shopping centre full of people. I saw three Muslims. I thought to myself and if they plant a bomb - she explains - I don't think I've become more racist, but my family at the beginning, yes, but with time their feelings are softening." On that fateful morning of the 11th March 2004, Spain suffered its worst terror attack. Their lives also changed after the 11th March attacks. Muslims say it is now more difficult to find jobs and places to live. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/ad7eb1230a1a883a8ec31a4c585c07ea Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork