Demonstrators in Greece clashed with riot police, as the country was thrown into chaos after protests turned violent. In central Athens, dozens of hooded youths threw Molotov cocktails, smashed paving stones and tried to storm the barricades in front of parliament during fierce clashes with police.
Nationwide protests were held on Friday to commemorate the anniversary of the country’s worst-ever rail crash. Fifty-seven people lost their lives after a passenger train filled with undergraduates collided with a freight train two years ago. Rallies involving hundreds of thousands of people took place across Greece, as anger over perceived lack of government action boiled over.
Demonstrations were led by relatives of the victims, who are demanding action and justice for their loved ones.
Unions called a general strike to support the protesters, paralysing transport across Greece.
Flights were grounded as air traffic controllers joined the strike, along with seafarers and train drivers.
Teachers and lawyers were also taking part, with businesses and shops across Greece staying shut.
Yannis Panagopoulos, president of the General Confederation of Greek Workers, the country’s largest labour union, said: “The full truth must come to light, and those responsible, no matter how high their position, must be held accountable.”
Public anger has been fuelled by a perception that the conservative government has failed to act after an investigation exposed serious shortcomings in Greece’s transport infrastructure.
A long-awaited report published on Thursday blamed human error, outdated infrastructure and major systemic failures for the lethal accident.
It also concluded that no action had been taken to remedy safety breaches that caused the crash.
The crash has become among many in Greece a symbol of perceived institutional failure in the country and government indifference, as a separate judicial investigation drags on.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ government has come in for a lot of flak from victims’ relatives for failing to set up a parliamentary inquiry into political responsibility.
The government denies any wrongdoing and says it is up to the judiciary to investigate.
