Al Qaeda-Like Groups Scrutinized. U.S. and European counterterrorism officials have seen a growing number of clues in the Madrid bombings that point to terrorists from any one of dozens of Islamic jihadist groups that use tactics similar to al Qaeda’s but conduct operations and choose targets independently, the officials said yesterday. This evidence, although preliminary, includes the use of cell phones to trigger explosive devices, a tactic al Qaeda has employed, and a strong suspicion that part of the operation was planned outside the targeted country, also an al Qaeda signature, two U.S. counterterrorism officials said yesterday. No evidence points directly to Osama bin Laden’s network, but counterterrorism officials believe they may be seeing proof of their worst fears: the carrying out of a spectacular, coordinated attack aimed at making a worldwide political statement by terrorists who might emulate al Qaeda but operate autonomously. Full Story