Greek police accused of brutality after crackdown on massive Tempi demonstrations (videos)
Source: in-cyprus.com
Hundreds of thousands gathered across Greece on Friday to mark the second anniversary of the Tempi rail disaster, demanding justice for the 57 lives lost in one of the country’s worst rail accidents.
The demonstrations, potentially the largest since Greece’s return to democracy in 1974, culminated in clashes with police who deployed violence and tear gas to disperse crowds in Athens.
Hundreds have been arrested while there are reports of many injured.
Protesters in Syntagma Square continued to return despite the heavy use of chemicals, with authorities creating a safety corridor to evacuate approximately 100-150 demonstrators caught between molotov cocktails and flash grenades.
“The investigation into the crime and attribution of responsibility remains unresolved two years on,” said one demonstrator. “We demand truth, justice and vindication for those who died needlessly”.
Medical teams provided first aid to around 40 protesters at the parliament building’s medical station, while three people who lost consciousness were transported to hospitals—two to Red Cross Hospital and one to Elpis Hospital.
Η αστυνομία μόλις χτύπησε ένα νεαρό παιδί αναίτια pic.twitter.com/Bs38Cf7q04
— Marios Rafail Bikos (@bikosmariosraf) February 28, 2025
The protesters’ anger centres on perceived government failures to implement safety measures that could have prevented the head-on collision between passenger and freight trains near Tempi Valley on February 28, 2022.
Δακρυγόνα και κρότου σε τραυματίες ρίχνουν τα ματ.
Το ΕΚΑΒ φωνάζει τι κάνουν βαράνε χτυπημένους pic.twitter.com/oj7LpX8oHl
— Marios Rafail Bikos (@bikosmariosraf) February 28, 2025
Despite police interventions, crowds remained in central Athens, reflecting widespread public dissatisfaction with the pace of the official investigation.
The train disaster in Tempi
On February 28, 2023, a train collision occurred near Tempi, Greece, resulting in 57 fatalities and numerous injuries. The incident involved a passenger train traveling from Athens to Thessaloniki and a freight train on the same track, leading to a head-on collision. The majority of the victims were university students returning from a holiday weekend.
Investigations into the disaster identified critical safety lapses within Greece’s railway infrastructure. A report by the Hellenic Air and Rail Accident Investigation Authority (HARSIA) highlighted that the collision was primarily due to human error by the Larissa station master, who manually set the train’s route incorrectly. Additionally, the report pointed to outdated infrastructure, incomplete modernisation projects, and insufficient safety systems as contributing factors. The absence of automated signaling and train protection systems, such as the European Train Control System (ETCS), left the network vulnerable to such tragedies.
Critiques of the Tempi train disaster have primarily focused on the consequences of neoliberal policies, particularly the privatisation of Greece’s railway system. Critics argue that the transfer of public assets to private entities, driven by austerity measures and neoliberal economic reforms, has led to underinvestment in infrastructure and compromised safety standards.
Following the tragedy, progressive groups, including workers’ and student organisations, expressed outrage over the deteriorating state of the country’s railways. Demonstrations highlighted how austerity-driven policies and privatisation had exacerbated systemic issues, leading to negligence and a lack of accountability. Protesters described the incident as a “predetermined crime with causes and culprits,” emphasising the role of neoliberal reforms in undermining public safety.
Mass protests and strikes have been organised, with citizens demanding accountability and comprehensive reforms to prevent future incidents. On the second anniversary of the disaster, widespread demonstrations and a general strike brought the country to a standstill.
Research conducted by Eteron, an institute for research and social change, revealed that a significant portion of the youth population holds neoliberal policies responsible for the disaster. The study found that 38.3% of young respondents favored the re-nationalisation of all passenger services, indicating a lack of confidence in privatized management of essential services.
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