Tens of hundreds of Greeks search justice for victims of Tempe practice crash – INA NEWS

Tens of hundreds of protesters have rallied outdoors Greece’s parliament in Athens to demand justice for the victims of the nation’s worst railway catastrophe almost two years in the past.

Sunday’s demonstration, one of many largest to be held within the capital in recent times, got here days after after native media launched an audio recording suggesting that among the 57 victims might need survived the collision however died in a fireplace of but unknown origin that burned for greater than an hour following the crash.

Protests have been additionally held in dozens of different cities in Greece and overseas, with individuals rallying below the “I’ve no oxygen” slogan, which echoed a girl’s final phrases in a name to emergency providers.

Attendees in Athens held banners studying “We received’t overlook” whereas chants of “Murderers, murderers” reverberated round Syntagma Sq..

A judicial investigation continues to be in progress over the collision of a freight practice and a passenger practice filled with college students close to Tempe, outdoors town of Larissa, simply earlier than midnight on February 28, 2023.

The crash, on a line linking Athens with Greece’s second-largest metropolis Thessaloniki, triggered indignant protests throughout the nation, the place it was seen as the results of widespread neglect of the railways after a decade-long monetary disaster.

Two years later, the reason for dying of lots of the victims has not been decided as their households have accused authorities of attempting to cowl up proof.

“Many because of all of the Greeks, wherever they’re, for his or her assist,” Maria Karystianou – a consultant of the affiliation of households of Tempe victims, who misplaced her 20-year-old daughter within the catastrophe – instructed reporters.

“Our voice says one factor: no crime will go unpunished, ever once more,” she stated. “Let the crime at Tempe be the start and justice is served, correctly, as a result of that’s what your entire society needs.”

Fireplace’s trigger unclear

Ilias Papangelis, who misplaced his 18-year-old daughter within the crash, instructed the gang in Athens: “Two years after the tragedy, nobody has been punished, nobody is in jail.”

In keeping with a report by consultants employed by households, the crash led to an enormous fireball. It’s unclear what brought on it.

A rising variety of consultants have dominated out assumptions that electrical energy cables or oils used within the passenger practice brought on the hearth, elevating questions over the freight practice’s cargo.

The centre-right authorities, which was re-elected after the crash, has denied the accusations.

Its proposal of former parliament speaker Constantine Tassoulas for the Greek presidency final week additional angered the family members, who say that below his watch parliament failed to analyze any political accountability.

“We don’t know what brought on the explosion, what the [freight] practice was carrying,” stated Nikos Plakias, who misplaced his two daughters and a niece within the accident.

“We are going to at all times have questions … and if we have to attain the European courts, we are going to,” he added.

Temporary clashes broke out between riot police and quite a lot of protesters after the largely peaceable demonstration in Athens, with cops firing tear gasoline to disperse some within the crowd.