Greek prosecutors on Thursday charged three extra railway officers in reference to the nation’s worst practice crash that killed 57 folks, because the prime minister vowed “absolute transparency” within the probe into the tragedy.
Public anger has soared for the reason that February 28 head-on collision in central Greece, with tens of hundreds demonstrating nationwide on Wednesday.
The stationmaster on responsibility on the time of the accident, who allegedly directed each trains onto the identical monitor by mistake, was charged a number of days in the past.
On Thursday, a rail supervisor accountable for employees rotas – who allegedly put the inexperienced stationmaster on night time responsibility throughout a busy vacation interval – was charged, a judicial supply instructed AFP.
Two different stationmasters, who allegedly left work early, have been additionally charged. All three face counts of negligent manslaughter, inflicting bodily hurt and transport disruption, and will face life in jail if convicted.
With anger rising at long-running mismanagement of the rail community, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis opened his first cupboard assembly for the reason that crash by vowing “absolute transparency within the investigation to uncover errors”.
The conservative chief, who is predicted to run for re-election within the coming months, additionally promised “quick actions to enhance the problematic state of affairs within the railways”.
He vowed to “transfer heaven and Earth” to make sure enhancements to security methods have been accomplished.
“We’re all accountable for this, we have to be courageous sufficient to confess it,” mentioned Mitsotakis in televised remarks.
On Wednesday, big crowds took to the streets within the greatest protests but for the reason that crash, calling for justice for the victims and for the federal government to resign.
Mass protests
They waved banners that learn “It’s not an accident, it’s against the law” and “It may have been any of us on that practice” as clashes erupted in Athens and Greece’s second metropolis Thessaloniki.
Greek civil servants staged a 24-hour walkout whereas medical doctors, lecturers and transport staff additionally went on strike on Wednesday.
Calls have grown for Mitsotakis to stop over the tragedy.
The preliminary blame on the stationmaster stoked public anger, with some seeing it as a bid to deflect consideration from persistent underfunding and mismanagement of the railways.
In his remarks Thursday, the prime minister apologised once more and mentioned that “we… should not disguise behind a collection of human errors”.
The cupboard assembly was the primary for the reason that accident and a interval of nationwide mourning.
Later Thursday, a spiritual ceremony will happen on the crash web site in reminiscence of the victims.
Greece’s transport minister resigned following the crash, and Mitsotakis has been scrambling to restrict the political fallout and soothe public anger.
He has pledged to work with the European Union to modernise the nation’s railway community, and on Wednesday met visiting EU officers to get their recommendation.
The prime minister and different politicians suspended campaigning for upcoming elections within the wake of the tragedy. There may be now hypothesis that the polls, initially anticipated in April, could possibly be delayed till Could.
