FUNDACIÓN VÍCTIMAS DEL TERRORISMO 94 - ENGLISH

9 NEWS T wenty-two years after the attacks of 11 March 2004, the city of Madrid once again became the setting for a day of reflection, remembrance and civic commitment. Throughout Wednesday 11 March, institutions, victims’ associations, public representatives and citizens took part in the various tributes organised by the Association of Victims of Terrorism (AVT), the 11M Association of Those Af- fected by Terrorism, the Community of Madrid and Madrid City Council. The events took place at the locations most directly affected by those explo- sions—Atocha, El Pozo, Santa Eugenia and Calle Téllez—as well as at Puerta del Sol and the Bosque del Recuerdo in the Retiro Park. A commemoration which, once again, sought to honour the 193 people killed and the more than 2,000 injured in the worst terrorist attack ever suffered in Spain and Europe. PUERTA DEL SOL OPENS THE DAY WITH A SOLEMN TRIBUTE As is now tradition, the first event of the day took place at 9.00 am at Puerta del Sol, organised by the Community of Ma- drid. It was a sombre ceremony without speeches, marked by the sound of the bells of the Real Casa de Correos clock, which tolled for two minutes. Churches across the region’s municipalities also joined in the gesture, creating a shared moment of silence and respect. Following this, the President of the Com- munity of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, and the Mayor of the capital, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, laid a laurel wreath in front of the plaque commemorating the victims of 11 March, as well as the citizens and emergency services who came to the aid of those affected on that day. MADRID HONOURS THE MEMORY OF ITS VICTIMS 11M EVENTS 22nd Anniversary of 11M The music provided a solemn backdrop to the ceremony as the Madrid Regional Orchestra and Choir performed Samuel Barber’s "Adagio for Strings", followed by the National Anthem. The ceremony was attended by repre- sentatives of the main associations and foundations for victims of terrorism: Maite Araluce (AVT), María Soledad Pérez (11M Association of Victims of Terrorism) and Juan Francisco Beni- to Valenciano, president of the Victims of Terrorism Foundation. Also present were regional government spokespeo- ple, emergency services, members of the State Security Forces and representatives of organisations such as the Miguel Ángel Blanco Foundation, Dignidad y Justicia, the Platform for Support for Victims of Terrorism, the Catalan Association of Victims of Terrorist Organisations and the Ignacio Echeverría Foundation.