Police Clash with Angry Protesters in Greece Following Train Deaths
In central Athens, Greek police have clashed with thousands of protesters during demonstrations regarding a train accident that killed almost 60 people at the end of February.
On Sunday, around 10,000 people, comprising of students and railway workers, gathered at a square demanding the improvement of safety standards on the railway network. During the protest, black balloons were released into the sky as the protesters shouted, “That crime won’t be forgotten.” One of the placards read, “Their policies cost human lives.”
On February 28, a passenger train crashed into a freight carrier, resulting in the deaths of at least 57 individuals, several of whom were university students. The train was on its way from Athens to the northern city of Thessaloniki and was carrying students who were returning after a long holiday weekend. Railway workers, who also lost colleagues in the accident, have been staging rotating walkouts over the past few days to protest the cost-cutting measures and underinvestment in the rail infrastructure.
A railway official is facing manslaughter charges for the train crash that killed at least 57 people in Greece on February 28. The government has attributed the accident to human error. Prime Minister Kyriakos expressed regret and offered an apology to the victims’ families in a Facebook post on Sunday. He added that justice would investigate the tragedy swiftly and establish accountability.
According to railway workers’ unions, the safety systems across the railway network have been inadequate for several years due to the delayed delivery of a remote surveillance and signaling system. The unions have urged the government to present a schedule for the implementation of safety protocols.
