Protesters hurl petrol bombs and police fire tear gas as demonstration in Greece turns violent

Protests are being held in towns and cities across Greece as part of a strike which has grounded flights and halted sea and train transport.

Friday 28 February 2025 12:51, UK

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Greek police have fired tear gas at demonstrators throwing petrol bombs after a protest marking the anniversary of the country's worst-ever train crash turned violent.

Scores of hooded youths hurled Molotov cocktails, smashed paving stones and attempted to storm the barricades in front of parliament during clashes with police in central Athens.

Riot police responded with volleys of tear gas and stun grenades.

Sky's chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay, who is in Athens, has said "huge crowds" have been out on the streets throughout the capital today, and there had been a "sense" that demonstrations could turn violent.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been taking part in rallies across the country to demand justice two years after the deadly crash.

"You count profits. We count lives," protesters chanted, while some carried black balloons and anti-government banners.

Fifty-seven people were killed when a passenger train filled with university students collided with a freight train in Tempe in 2023.

The crash has become a symbol of institutional failure in the country.

Protests are being held in dozens of towns and cities across Greece as part of a general strike which has grounded flights and halted sea and train transport.

International and domestic flights were grounded as air traffic controllers joined the strike.

Seafarers, train drivers, doctors, lawyers and teachers are also taking part, with businesses and shops across the country shut.

The demonstrations have been led by the relatives of the 57 people killed and are among the largest since the country's debt crisis more than a decade ago.

"The government hasn't done anything to get justice," said Christos Main, 57, a musician at the Athens rally. "This wasn't an accident, it was murder."

Yannis Panagopoulos, president of the General Confederation of Greek Workers, the country's largest labour union, which has backed the strike, said: "The full truth must come to light, and those responsible, no matter how high their position, must be held accountable."

The demonstrations have been fuelled by resentment over the conservative government's perceived inaction after the crash exposed deficiencies in the country's transportation infrastructure.

A long-awaited report on the investigation into the crash released on Thursday concluded that human error, outdated infrastructure and major systemic failures were to blame. It also found safety gaps that caused the crash have not been filled.

A separate judicial investigation remains unfinished.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis's government has faced criticism from relatives of the victims for failing to initiate a parliamentary inquiry into political responsibility.

The government denies wrongdoing and says it is up to the judiciary to investigate.

Protesters hurl petrol bombs and police fire tear gas as demonstration in Greece turns violent

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