Protests in Thessaloniki spiraled out of control on Thursday due to anger over the train disaster in Greece. Police say the protesters threw Molotov cocktails.
At least 57 people were killed in Tuesday’s train accident. The death toll may still rise. Ten people have not yet been found and six injured are in intensive care.
Outraged Greeks have been taking to the streets since Wednesday evening. On Thursday, the number of demonstrators rose to at least two thousand.
The protesters in Thessaloniki carried torches and fireworks. They threw stones, among other things. The police therefore used tear gas. By now it would be quiet on the street again.
In Athens, demonstrations were also held at the headquarters of the railways. The demonstration turned into riots. Greek rail workers went on strike all day on Thursday.
The demonstrators are furious because railway companies and the government have neglected the track. So revealed the Greek newspaper Kathimerini that the railway’s automatic safety system has been broken for nine years. Planned repairs have already been postponed seven times.
The signals must therefore be operated by people. As a result, two trains could end up on the same route on Tuesday. A passenger train and a freight train collided head-on. The 59-year-old station master of Larissa was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of wrongful death.
