Train bomb suspect had sketch of U.S. station

MADRID, Spain -- A suspect in the Madrid train bombings was found to possess a sketch and technical details about Grand Central Terminal in New York, U.S. officials confirmed Wednesday.\nThe sketch and data were on a computer disk seized about two weeks after the March 11, 2004, train bombings in Madrid that killed 191 people, the Spanish newspaper El Mundo said.\nIn New York, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the FBI had informed the city Police Department about the existence of the data on the computer and the city responded by tightening security at transit centers.\n"We've known about the data on the computer for a long time," said Bloomberg, interviewed on WBLS Radio.\n"We've taken the appropriate steps 'back when' to beef up security at all of the major transportation hubs -- train stations and airports and bus stations, places where you say if a terrorist wanted to attack, they would," Bloomberg said.\n"We looked at all of our transportation facilities, and we think we've taken appropriate steps. ... It's sad we're in a world where you have to worry about it, but you do," he added.\nSpanish police turned the disk to the U.S. agents from the FBI and CIA in December once they understood the scope of the technical data, the report said.\nA U.S. Embassy official confirmed that American law enforcement authorities received information related to Grand Central Terminal from Spanish authorities in December. The official declined to go into detail.\nHowever, a Spanish police official said Spanish and U.S. authorities don't lend much credibility to the sketch, saying it is not even clear it is supposed to be a picture of Grand Central Terminal.\nThe police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the sketch was found in the home of Mouhannad Almallah, a Syrian who was arrested in Madrid on March 24 but later released, although he is still considered a suspect.\nAlmallah was questioned about his alleged ties to two suspects jailed in connection with the attack after witnesses placed them aboard trains targeted in the string of 10 bombs, El Mundo said.\nA total of 24 people are in jail over the attack, although at least 40 more who were arrested and released are still considered suspects.