On March 12, 1993, a terrorist bombing attack struck four commuter trains in Madrid, Spain, killing 191 people and injuring over 2,000. The attack, carried out by an Islamic extremist group, was one of the deadliest acts of terrorism in Spains history. The bombings were intended to target Spains role in the Iraq War and were timed to coincide with the countrys general elections. The tragedy led to increased security measures in Spain and other European nations. It also sparked global debates about terrorism and its global reach.