SPANISH POLICE HAVE SEIZED 1.6 TONNES OF STOLEN EXPLOSIVES IN A CRACKDOWN ON THE CONTRABAND TRADE, AFTER IT EMERGED MATERIAL USED TO MAKE BOMBS IN THE MADRID TRAIN BOMBINGS TWO YEARS AGO CAME FROM A SPANISH MINE, REUTERS REPORTED. INTERIOR MINISTER JOSE ANTONIO ALONSO SAID ON MONDAY THAT THE IMPOUNDED EXPLOSIVES OF VARIOUS TYPES HAD BEEN MADE HARMLESS BY THE CIVIL GUARD AS PART OF A SECURITY OPERATION LAUNCHED IN NOVEMBER 2004. IN MARCH THAT YEAR, EXTREMISTS TARGETED FOUR TRAINS PACKED WITH COMMUTERS, KILLING 191 PEOPLE AND INJURING 1,900. THE EXPLOSIVES USED WERE STOLEN FROM A FROM A MINE IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF ASTURIAS AND PACKED INTO 14 BOMBS.
