Why Greece experiences the most violent protests in its history

Even at the time of the severe financial crisis, there were no great demonstrations: at hundreds of thousands, people in Greece went to the streets nationwide to remind 57 deaths of the serious train accident in Tempi two years ago. They are demanding enlightenment from the government and the punishment of those responsible.

According to the police, around 170,000 people protested in Athens alone. At the end of the event, hundreds of autonomous and hooligans rioted and delivered street battles with the police. 29 people were slightly injured.

People accuse the government of not properly processing the circumstances of the frontal collision between a freight and a passenger train on February 28, 2023 in tempos. “No to cover up” and “We don’t forget” was on the posters of the demonstrators.

This week, an official report by the authority for accidents in air and rail traffic was presented for the first time after two years. This speaks of the desolate state of the Greek railway as well as the lack of qualification of the railway leader, who had sent one of the trains to the wrong track. The barely functional safety technology on the route was also listed.

In addition, the authority determined serious investigative errors after the accident. Among other things, the scene of the accident was not properly mapped, and the fire brigade, emergency services and police had not coordinated their missions. Evidence had been lost or destroyed by this – among other things, when part of the accident was cemented so that cranes could be installed to move the smashed wagons.

The report remained open in the report whether a flammable hazardous substance was really transported on board the freight train, as the families of the victims suspect.

Following the demos in Athens and Thessaloniki, there were riots between autonomous and the police. According to the police, between 500 and 700 hooded people in Athens alone are said to have rioted and thrown fire rates.

The officers used tear gas and water cannons. There were 20 arrests, 70 people were taken into custody. 29 people, including five police officers, were injured and treated in hospitals, the news channel Ertnews reported, citing emergency services. The injuries are burns and respiratory problems, nobody was in mortal danger, it said.