More than 60,000 Greeks demonstrated against the country’s authorities yesterday. The country’s prime minister said he bears responsibility for the accident that killed 57 people.
Charges have been brought against three railway officials in Greece following last week’s devastating train crash.
One train dispatcher and two station managers are suspected of causing death and injury as well as malfunctions related to railway traffic.
There are four defendants in total, as charges were brought against the station manager of the train station in the city of Larissa, which is located near the accident site, already last week.
Violent demonstrations have continued for more than a week
In the deadliest train accident in Greek history, 57 people were killed, and dozens more were injured.
The accident happened when a passenger train carrying mostly young students and a freight train collided on the section between Athens and Thessaloniki.
Tens of thousands of Greeks have demonstrated every day since the accident.
Yesterday, Wednesday, more than 60,000 people participated in demonstrations across Greece, and thousands of workers also marched out of their workplaces in protest.
The demonstrations turned violent in many places and several police officers were injured.
Demonstrators accuse the Greek government that the country’s railway network and equipment are old-fashioned.
Prime Minister: “We should have the courage to admit that it is our fault”
Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in his speech today that he bears responsibility for the train crash.
According to Mitsotakis, Greece will renew the country’s railway network in order to avoid similar accidents.
– I take responsibility for the accident. We cannot and do not want to hide behind the fact that the accident was caused by human error, he said.
Mitsotakis also appealed to the protesters not to descend into violence and seek to divide the nation.
More on the topic:
Violent protests in Greece following a train crash that claimed 43 lives
At least 36 dead after train crashes in Greece – almost a hundred injured