As the investigation into the Madrid training bombings has continued over nearly a full year, new details have emerged that have provided a more complete picture of the terrorist group that conducted this attack and its other activities. Only last week, it was revealed that Spanish authorities had recovered, from the home of a suspect, a computer disk containing a ?very basic schematic? of Grand Central Station in New York City plus other related data. Whilst the authorities found no evidence of a terrorist plot against the station, this revelation is a cause for significant concern.

Did the Madrid cell collect this information for themselves, and if so, how did they obtained it? Does this revelation indicate that this cell was beginning to turn its attention toward the United States either in its own right or in support of another cell? Might that indicate that the many other cells recruited in Europe are similarly considering the option of attacking the US as well as, or rather than, local targets? If someone else collected the data, who is it, how, and why did this material end up in the hands of the Madrid cell? Is this find further evidence that Islamic terrorist groups are sharing information on targets and tactics with like-minded individuals abroad? How was this information obtained? Was it acquired using open source information or had someone conducted a reconnaissance of Grand Central Station? And, if so, was the reconnaissance conducted by an alien or by supporters living in the US?