Violent clashes in Athens after the train accident – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries

The demonstrators are protesting against the government after the train accident, which is the worst in the country in more than 50 years. According to the news agencies, between 30,000 and 40,000 Greeks must have demonstrated in the capital, Athens. The demonstrators shouted “Murderers” and “We are all in the same wagon”. Student associations and trade unions are behind the protests. Many of those who lost their lives in the accident were students. Throwing stones and firebombs The police used tear gas against a group of black-clad demonstrators who threw firebombs and stones outside the National Assembly. Cars and rubbish bins were set on fire. In Greece’s second largest city, Thessaloniki, more than 20,000 people took to the streets. Here, too, it became violent when demonstrators supported the police. Many of the passengers on the train accident were students at the University of Thessaloniki. Today’s demonstrations will be the largest in the country since 2019. Strike affects ferry departures Several strikes have also been launched, leading to a halt in ferries to the Greek islands and in public transport in Athens. 57 people lost their lives in the accident which happened late at night on Tuesday 28 February. The cause of the accident is not yet known, but the protesters believe that many years of cutbacks in the railway have contributed to the accident. The transport minister has resigned, and the station master in Larissa has been arrested and charged with negligent homicide after the accident. Demonstrators throw firebombs at the police. Photo: Petros Giannakouris / AP Press against the government The station master must have admitted that a switch was in the wrong position so that the two trains ended up running on the same track before they crashed head-on at high speed, writes NTB. Revelations about serious weaknesses in the security of the train line have led to pressure on the government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. He has promised that the government will cooperate with the investigation into the accident. The EU has sent experts to contribute to the work to improve train safety in Greece, and it is expected that Germany will also send people.



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