Greek stationmaster charged over rail crash that killed 57; public anger turns to violence
- The 59-year-old stationmaster, who has been named as Vassilis Samaras, was charged over his role in the ‘death of a large number of people’
- There have been widespread demonstrations and vigils amid grief and anger after a passenger train and a goods train collided on Tuesday
On the streets, public anger over the deaths exploded into violence at demonstrations to protest the long-standing neglect of rail safety and to mourn the victims.
A legal source told Agence France-Presse that the 59-year-old stationmaster, who has been named as Vassilis Samaras, was charged over his role in the “death of a large number of people” and taken into custody. Under Greek law, the offence carries a sentence of between 10 years and life.
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Protesters scuffle with riot police following fatal train collision in Greece
Earlier on Sunday, ahead of a memorial service in Athens, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis wrote a message addressed to the nation.
“As prime minister, I owe it to everyone, but especially to the victims’ relatives, (to ask for) forgiveness,” he wrote.
“For the Greece of 2023, two trains heading in different directions cannot run on the same line and no one notice,” Mitsotakis wrote in the message posted on his Facebook page.
In the coming days, the minister in charge will announce immediate measures to improve railway safety, Mitsotakis added.