Bomb Alert: Chaos At Madrid's Atocha Train Station As Man Arrested For False Threat

A suspected suicide bomber has been held at Atocha railway station in Madrid after claiming to have left a bomb on a train. According to reports in Spanish media, the man said he left a rucksack containing an explosive device on board. The station was evacuated as security officials searched the trains, however, police have since confirmed that the incident was a false alarm.

Police sources told Europa Press the backpack was found to contain just a bottle of water and no explosives. Later on Twitter the National Police Corps confirmed the threat had been a false one. The station was evacuated but has since been reopened to the public.

The railway station was the scene of the terror bombings in 2004, which saw an al Qaeda-inspired terror cell target packed morning commuter trains, killing 191 people and injuring 1,800. The devices exploded almost simultaneously and the bombings occurred a few days before scheduled elections.

Sources: BBC / Sky News