Aznar: Spain Failed to See Terror Threat [View All]

MADRID, Spain -- Former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar has admitted for the first time that his government failed to estimate the threat posed by Islamic extremists ahead of the March 11 terrrost attack.

In a book published Monday, Aznar conceded that -- because of its success fighting Basque separatist groups -- his government may have lowered its guard ahead of the Madrid bombings of commuter trains that killed 191 people and wounded more than 2,000.

The bombings, Spain's worst terror attack, were blamed on al-Qaida-linked militants.

Aznar's conservative government initially blamed the strikes on the Basque ETA group. As reports emerged that Islamic terrorists were likely responsible, the Spanish opposition accused the government of a cover up.

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