39 years since the Hipercor massacre: Spain's 21 forgotten victims

39 years since the Hipercor massacre: 21 lives cut short

Jordi was 9 years old when a van bomb carrying 27 kilos of amonal and 200 litres of flammable liquid exploded in the car park of the Hipercor hypermarket in Barcelona. He would have turned 40 today. Teresa, who was pregnant, was murdered alongside her husband; Susana, aged 13, would now be 46. On 19 June 1987, ETA carried out the deadliest attack in its history: 21 civilians, including five men, twelve women and four children, lost their lives. The blast wave and the fire that trinc turned a shopping centre into a deadly trap.

The story of Álvaro Cabrerizo: losing his entire family in an instant

One of the most heartbreaking images is that of Álvaro Cabrerizo. His vvife, María del Carmen Mármol, and his two daughters (aged 13 and 15) had gone to the Hipercor for the first time to buy swimsuits and beach shoes. All three died in the attack. Álvaro, who had set up two video rental shops with the compensation from a workplace accident, told his story just six days later in ABC. His testimony is a reminder that behind every figure lies a broken life.

39 years on: institutional neglect and public remembrance

Today, on the anniversary, some voices point out that the dead remain just as they were and that the story of ETA's terrorism is not taught in schools. Meanwhile, former ETA members hold political and administrative positions, creating a sense of impunity and whitewashing. The memory of the 21 victims lives on among those who refuse to forget. As was said in the debate: "Anyone with the stomach should read the testimonies." The wound remains open.