Violent protests in Athens on rail crash anniversary as frustration at system failures boils over

1 of 31 |

A protestor throws a stone against the riots police outside of the parliament during a rally in central Athens, Greece to mark two years since a deadly rail disaster that has also triggered hundreds of other demonstrations and a general strike, on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

2 of 31 |

Protesters throw molotovs against riot police at the Greek parliament in central Athens, Greece to mark two years since a deadly rail disaster that has also triggered hundreds of other demonstrations and a general strike, on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

3 of 31 |

4 of 31 |

Protesters gather at Syntagma square in central Athens, Greece to mark two years since a deadly rail disaster that has also triggered hundreds of other demonstrations and a general strike, on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

5 of 31 |

Protesters gathering in front of the parliament in central Athens, Greece to mark two years since a deadly rail disaster that has also triggered hundreds of other demonstrations and a general strike, on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

6 of 31 |

Hooded protesters beat a riot policeman after a massive rally in central Athens, Greece to mark two years since a deadly rail disaster that has also triggered hundreds of other demonstrations and a general strike, on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

7 of 31 |

A riot policeman kicks a hooded protester after a massive rally in central Athens, Greece to mark two years since a deadly rail disaster that has also triggered hundreds of other demonstrations and a general strike, on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

8 of 31 |

Protesters clash with the riots police outside of the parliament during a rally in central Athens, Greece to mark two years since a deadly rail disaster that has also triggered hundreds of other demonstrations and a general strike, on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

9 of 31 |

An injury protestor touches his head as surrounding from the riots police during a rally in central Athens, Greece to mark two years since a deadly rail disaster that has also triggered hundreds of other demonstrations and a general strike, on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

10 of 31 |

A riot policeman clashes with a protester after a massive rally in central Athens, Greece to mark two years since a deadly rail disaster that has also triggered hundreds of other demonstrations and a general strike, on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

11 of 31 |

Security patrol at the Greek capital’s shuttered main railway station in central Athens, Greece, to mark two years since a deadly rail disaster that has also triggered hundreds of other demonstrations and a general strike, on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

12 of 31 |

The names of train accident’s victims are seen outside the Greek capital’s shuttered main railway station in central Athens, Greece, marking two years since a deadly rail disaster that has also triggered hundreds of other demonstrations and a general strike, on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

13 of 31 |

14 of 31 |

A man walks as the ferries remain anchored at the port of Piraeus, near Athens, Greece as the country marked two years since a deadly rail disaster that has also triggered hundreds of other demonstrations and a general strike, on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

15 of 31 |

A man runs in front of the ferries that remain anchored in the port of Piraeus, near Athens, Greece as the country marked two years since a deadly rail disaster that has also triggered hundreds of other demonstrations and a general strike, on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

16 of 31 |

A woman walks in front of the ferries that remain anchored in the port of Piraeus, near Athens, Greece as the country marked two years since a deadly rail disaster that has also triggered hundreds of other demonstrations and a general strike, on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

17 of 31 |

Crane, firefighters and rescuers operate after a collision, that killed 57 people, in Tempe, about 376 kilometres (235 miles) north of Athens, near Larissa city, Greece, Wednesday, March 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos, File)

18 of 31 |

19 of 31 |

A crane, firefighters and rescuers operate after a collision, that killed 57 people, in Tempe, about 376 kilometres (235 miles) north of Athens, near Larissa city, Greece, Wednesday, March 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Vaggelis Kousioras, File)

20 of 31 |

21 of 31 |

Thousands of protesters gather at Stadiou street in central Athens, Greece to mark two years since a deadly rail disaster that has also triggered hundreds of other demonstrations and a general strike, on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

22 of 31 |

Protesters gather in front of the parliament in central Athens, Greece to mark two years since a deadly rail disaster that has also triggered hundreds of other demonstrations and a general strike, on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

23 of 31 |

24 of 31 |

A relative speeches as her holds up the her photograph of a passenger victim of the train, during a rally in central Athens, Greece to mark two years since a deadly rail disaster that has also triggered hundreds of other demonstrations and a general strike, on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

25 of 31 |

People gathering at Syntagma square during a rally in central Athens, Greece to mark two years since a deadly rail disaster that has also triggered hundreds of other demonstrations and a general strike, on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

26 of 31 |

A protestor kicks a tear gas during clashes with riot police in central Athens, Greece to mark two years since a deadly rail disaster that has also triggered hundreds of other demonstrations and a general strike, on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

27 of 31 |

A protestor throws a molotov cocktail against the riots police outside of the parliament during a rally in central Athens, Greece to mark two years since a deadly rail disaster that has also triggered hundreds of other demonstrations and a general strike, on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

28 of 31 |

A protestor prepares to throw a molotov cocktail against the riots police outside of the parliament during a rally in central Athens, Greece to mark two years since a deadly rail disaster that has also triggered hundreds of other demonstrations and a general strike, on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

29 of 31 |

Thousands of protesters take part in a massive rally in central Athens, Greece to mark two years since a deadly rail disaster that has also triggered hundreds of other demonstrations and a general strike, on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (Eurokinissi via AP)

30 of 31 |

31 of 31 |

A hooded protester throws a stone against riot police at the Greek Parliament in central Athens, Greece to mark two years since a deadly rail disaster that has also triggered hundreds of other demonstrations and a general strike, on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

By DEREK GATOPOULOS and ELENA BECATOROS

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Protesters in Athens hurled gasoline bombs and smashed-up paving stones as they clashed with police during mass demonstrations Friday to mark the second anniversary of a devastating train crash that has become a symbol of institutional failure in Greece. Authorities said at least 41 people were arrested and 20 received medical attention during the violence outside Parliament and through nearby streets. Police fired volleys of tear gas and stun grenades and used water cannon to clear crowds, one confrontation occurring in front of Hadrian’s Arch, an ancient Roman monument.

Hundreds of thousands of people joined rallies across Greece to demand justice for the 57 people killed on Feb. 28, 2023, when a passenger train collided head-on with a freight train. Among the largest since Greece’s debt crisis a decade ago, the protests have been fueled by public resentment against the conservative government’s perceived inaction.

Unions called a general strike in support of the mass mobilization led by the victims’ relatives. Critics say that politicians should be held accountable for failures that led up to the collision, but so far only rail officials have been charged with any crimes.

Not PARSE.LY: Rail accidents

Greek rail disaster report cites errors and major systemic failures

Detectives with the Louisville Metro Crime Scene unit examines a scene of a deadly shooting outside a motor vehicle office in Louisville, Ky., Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)

Chaotic scene unfolded as 3 were shot and killed outside Kentucky driver’s license office

Wildlife and police officers stand next to a derailed train engine after it collided with a herd of wild elephants in Minneriya, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Priyan Malinda)

A train struck an elephant herd in Sri Lanka, killing 6 animals

The disaster in Tempe — the worst railway accident in Greece’s history — left dozens injured and exposed deficiencies in transportation infrastructure.

“The full truth must come to light, and those responsible, no matter how high their position, must be held accountable,” said Yannis Panagopoulos, president of the General Confederation of Greek Workers, the country’s largest labor union, which has backed Friday’s strike.

Protests and disruption across the country

Flights and rail services were canceled, ferries halted and public transportation across the country was severely disrupted. Private businesses and public services have also been affected, with many stores in Athens closed, leaving messages of solidarity for the victims’ families in front windows.

Demonstrations were taking place in more than 300 cities and towns in Greece and abroad. Protesters in Athens, chanting “You count profits. We count lives,” carried black balloons and anti-government banners and blared aerosol horns. Athens municipal worker Costas Reintzopoulos said the rail crash had highlighted longstanding demands for safer working conditions. Eleven of the people who died at the Tempe disaster were railway employees. “Every day, there is a demand to know the truth about what happened, and every day there is demand to for better safety measures in the workplace. That is a key reason why this remains relevant,” he said. “We don’t want to mourn more dead people, who leave in the morning to go to work and we don’t know if they’ll come back.”

Memorial services were held at Orthodox churches in Athens for the victims, who included many university students returning from a long weekend.

Their families had urged protesters to remain peaceful and keep the focus on remembrance rather than politics.

Yet the demonstrations have created a politically precarious moment for Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ government.

His conservatives maintain a strong lead in the polls, but public dissatisfaction over the Tempe disaster has led to surging support for anti-establishment parties on both the left and right. Opposition leaders, who are struggling to gain traction, are weighing whether to put forward a censure motion. Mitsotakis promised to continue work to improve rail safety, adding: “Every Greek participates in this mourning, united under the common demand for truth.”

Human error and systemic failures blamed for the Tempe crash

The mountainous country is largely road-reliant and the nation’s railway system is centered around a single route between Athens and the second-largest city, Thessaloniki, a fact that made the collision harder for many to understand.

A long-awaited report on the investigation into the Tempe crash, released Thursday, blamed human error, outdated infrastructure and major systemic failures for the head-on collision.

The aftermath was marked by scenes of chaos, with surviving passengers describing tumbling carriages, fires and smashed windows as they scrambled to escape.

It was followed by the gruesome task of victim recovery and identification as many bodies were severely burned or dismembered. Funerals were held across numerous communities throughout Greece, many streamed or broadcast live, turning private grief into a shared national experience.

Hours after the collision, Maria Krystianou rushed to the scene of the tragedy to search for her missing daughter, 21-year-old Maria-Thomai, as the train cars still smoldered.

After a two-day wait, Maria-Thomai’s death was finally confirmed with a DNA match.

Krystianou, a 52-year-old pediatrician, has since become a leading figure in the campaign to hold politicians to account for the crash. This week she publicly thanked unions and associations that joined the protests, including doctors at public hospitals, and lawyers and judges who will hold a minute’s silence in courts Friday. “For those of us who had our children and loved ones on that train, a part of us remains with them and will never return. The unrelenting pain and the unimaginable reality are with us forever,” Krystianou told a crowd outside parliament. Pointing to the protesters, she added: “This is for you, my girl, and for those of us who never made it.” ___ Associated Press journalists Lefteris Pitarakis and Theodora Tongas contributed.