The mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, accompanied by deputy mayor Inma Sanz, delegate for Culture, Tourism and Sport, Marta Rivera de la Cruz, and councilor for Centro, Carlos Segura, unveiled the monolith in memory of the victims of the attack at the former Rolando cafeteria, located at number 4 Calle del Correo. In this terrorist act, ETA caused the deaths of 13 people and injured over 60.
The explosion occurred 52 years ago, on September 13, 1974, and marked the terrorist organization's first indiscriminate attack against the civilian population. Although the bomb was aimed at police officers from the nearby General Security Directorate, only one officer was injured and later died from his wounds.
The installation of this monolith is another step in the City Council's plan to erect memorial plaques for victims of terrorism, an unanimous agreement that has gained momentum during the current term. The project, named ‘Itinerario de la libertad’ (Freedom Itinerary), already features 40 commemorative plaques in the capital, half of which have been placed in the last two years.
More plaques will be added in the coming months, and from now on, the ‘Freedom Itinerary’ will be accessible online via the City Council's geoportal and a geolocation application. These platforms will provide detailed information about the events that occurred at each memorial site.
The mayor emphasized that Madrid is the most affected European city by terrorism and reaffirmed the municipal commitment to keeping the memory of the victims alive, expressing eternal gratitude to the families affected by ETA's terrorism.
“"Preserving the memory of those who gave their lives to protect ours is a gesture of gratitude and affection that will forever remain in society."
During the ceremony, the Medals of Social Merit were also awarded to civil guards Antonio Molina and Juan Aguilar. These officers, through their intervention on December 17, 2002, thwarted the entry of 130 kilos of explosives into Madrid intended for an attack. In the armed confrontation in Collado Villalba, one of the guards lost his life, while the other was seriously injured, forcing his retirement from service.
In the presence of their families and representatives of the Guardia Civil, the mayor highlighted that these tributes aim to honor those who sacrificed their lives to protect others.
