Protests Across Greece Demand Justice for Deadly Train Crash, Over 100 Injured in Clashes with Police

Protests Across Greece Demand Justice for Deadly Train Crash, Over 100 Injured in Clashes with Police

Athens, February 28: On the first anniversary of Greece's deadliest train crash, massive protests and clashes erupted across the country. On February 28, 2023, a passenger train collided with a freight train in the Tempi Gorge area of central Greece, killing 57 people, most of them students. The accident has sparked widespread outrage, and with the investigation still unfinished and no accountability for the perpetrators, thousands of victims' families and protesters took to the streets.

On Friday, protesters gathered in Athens' Syntagma Square, chanting "murderers" and paying tribute to the dead. Some protesters threw petrol bombs at police and attempted to break through barricades near the parliament building. In response, riot police fired tear gas to try to control the situation.

There were also large protests in Greece's second-largest city, Thessaloniki. A nationwide 24-hour general strike was held, which led to disruptions in air, sea, and rail transport.

The families of the victims have accused the government of neglecting the investigation and failing to take action on railway safety. Protesters have claimed that the government has done nothing to take responsibility and is trying to cover up the issue.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called for peace to maintain order and described the protests as an attempt to create political instability. He also stated that the government is working to improve and modernize the railway system, but that the investigation into the accident has been left to the judiciary.

In response to the events, opposition parties have strongly criticized the government and called for Mitsotakis to resign.