Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, opens the plenary session in Strasbourg, speaking about the 20th year anniversary of the Madrid attacks. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

statement

Strasbourg

plenary session

EU - Spain (T)

fight against terrorism (T)

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

president's agenda

Introductory remark by Roberta METSOLA, EP President on the 20th year anniversary of the Madrid attacks

Now, dear colleagues, on the morning of the 11th of March, 20 years ago today, coordinated terror attacks targeting commuter trains packed with innocent people devastated Madrid, killing 192 people and injuring nearly 2000 others. It was one of the deadliest terrorist attacks ever seen in Europe.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, 'The shock and profound grief in the aftermath of those ten bombs detonated by Al-Qaeda in Spain's capital city left a scar on all of Europe. We mourn the loss of the loved ones taken from us too soon. We remember the victims. And two decades later, we reiterate our commitment to fighting extremism and terrorism.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We will never forget them. We stand with the people of Madrid and of Spain.