Vital clues missed by Spanish police

[dArKeR]

A single strip of fading police tape across the gate is the only sign that this tranquil hideaway, 40km from Madrid, was linked to the horrific terrorist attacks on the capital's commuter trains three months ago that left 191 people dead and 1 400 injured.

This is where Hamed Sayed Osman Rabei -- a former Egyptian army explosives expert said to have helped plan the atrocity and a similar attack reportedly thwarted in Paris this week -- allegedly met the petty crooks and pious university graduates who made up the Madrid bombing team.

It was also here, say neighbours, that Spanish police missed one of several opportunities to prevent the attacks from happening.

Locals became suspicious of the men who came and went in a range of vehicles.

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