Hearts Broken at the Memorial Service at the Scene of the Tragedy
Family members, with tears in their eyes, called out the names of their loved ones during the memorial service at the site of the Tempi tragedy.
Protest Gathering in Stuttgart for the Victims of the Tempi Tragedy
A protest gathering in memory of the 57 victims of the Tempi tragedy was held by Greeks in Stuttgart.
Katerini: Gathering for the Children Lost in Tempi
Athens Center Turns into a Battlefield After the End of the Magnificent Rally
57 Arrests in Total
The Hellenic Police made 160 detentions, 57 of which were turned into arrests, following the clashes that occurred after the rally commemorating the 2nd anniversary of the Tempi tragedy.
Additionally, 34 citizens and 29 police officers were injured during the incidents.
Ecumenical Patriarchate: Memorial Service by Bartholomew for the Victims of the Tempi Tragedy
A memorial service for the souls of the 57 victims who lost their lives in the tragic Tempi train accident was held by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Patriarchal Church of St. George.
The Patriarch expressed the deep sympathy and support of the Holy Mother Church to the families of the victims. He stated that the Church shares in the pain of the entire Greek people, as this heavy grief affects not only the families of the victims but the whole Greek nation.
Hierarchs, members of the Patriarchal Court, clergy, Patriarchate staff, and pilgrims were present at the service.
KKE: Government Responsible for the Repression Against Protesters
The KKE condemned the government for the extreme repression against protesters. In its statement, the press office emphasized:
“The government bears full responsibility for the wave of repression that began in the afternoon against the magnificent strike rally and continued unnecessarily for hours in central Athens. The excessive use of tear gas, water cannons, and mass detentions under the pretext of ‘hooded groups’ ultimately targeted the protesters.”
The party added that such actions would not intimidate the people or erase the powerful message sent by over one million people across the country.
SYRIZA Calls for Chrysochoidis’ Resignation
SYRIZA has called for the resignation of Michalis Chrysochoidis, the Minister of Citizen Protection, accusing the government of deliberately violating the constitutional right to assemble.
The statement included:
“The historic demonstrations of February 28 cannot be tarnished by the atrocities committed today by the Hellenic Police under the orders of Mitsotakis and Chrysochoidis. The New Democracy government is consciously violating the constitutional right to assemble.”
It was also mentioned that the police had clear orders to disperse the protest, rather than protect citizens, as falsely claimed by Chrysochoidis the previous Wednesday.
Clashes in Syntagma Square: Riot Police Respond with Flashbangs
The riot police responded with flashbangs to the clashes occurring once again in Syntagma Square.
Thessaloniki: Metro Operations Running as Usual – OSE Station Closed
Metro services in Thessaloniki are operating normally, except for the OSE station. According to the announcement, all routes along Line 1 are running as scheduled, but the “New Railway Station” is closed to passengers, and trains do not stop there.
Marinakis: For the Families of the Victims and Society, Three Demands Matter: Truth, Justice, Never Again
In a heartfelt statement following the conclusion of the rallies for the Tempi tragedy, Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister and Government Spokesperson, Pavlos Marinakis, emphasized that for the families of the 57 victims and for society at large, there are three key demands: Truth, Justice, and Never Again. Marinakis underlined the duty of the state to transform the public demand of “never again” into concrete policies for safer railways.
Reflecting on the two-year anniversary of the devastating incident, Marinakis noted that the tragic loss of 57 lives was a result of both human error and systemic failures within the state apparatus. For the families affected, time had come to a standstill that night. The three demands, Truth, Justice, and Never Again, were echoed across the country through peaceful rallies, social media posts, and quiet gestures of solidarity.
The government spokesman warned that no political party should attempt to turn these demands and the citizens’ feelings into small-scale political objectives. He also praised the strength of democracy in protecting the peaceful protesters, noting that the police responded calmly and professionally to safeguard the protesters’ physical well-being, especially after some factions tried to mar the day’s solemnity with violence.
Marinakis concluded by stressing that in memory of the 57 lives lost in the Tempi tragedy, it is the state’s responsibility to transform the demand of “never again” into more effective policies ensuring the safety of Greece’s railways.
Athens Municipality Vehicle Cleans the Streets in Syntagma
Dimoglidou: Over 120 Detentions, Rioters Did Not Act in Organized Groups from the Start
ELAS spokesperson Konstantina Dimoglidou commented on police operations during the clashes, stating that some individuals took advantage of the large crowd to launch attacks on the police.
“These individuals were not initially acting as an organized group but were moving among the demonstrators,” she told ERT News, adding that after covering their faces, they coordinated their attacks.
Dimoglidu also noted that due to the size of the protest in central Athens, police chose to use water cannons, as water is the least aggressive crowd control method.
During the clashes, over 120 detentions were made, 27 of which have already been converted into arrests.
52 Arrests Made
So far, the police have arrested 52 people.
In Thessaloniki, at least 25 detentions have been carried out.
Video of the New Clashes in Syntagma Square
Number of Injured from Protests Rises to 15
A total of 15 people have been transported to hospitals.
Among them, 4 were taken to Evangelismos, 2 to Red Cross, and 1 to Elpis Hospital.
Additionally, 6 police officers were transported to NIMTS Hospital, and 2 others to the 401 Military Hospital.
Police Water Cannon Sprays Protesters
12 Injured Protesters Taken to Hospitals
A total of 12 protesters have been injured in the Athens clashes, which broke out on the sidelines of the demonstrations marking the Tempi tragedy anniversary.
According to Michalis Giannakos, president of POEDIN (Panhellenic Federation of Public Hospital Employees), eight injured individuals are being treated at Evangelismos Hospital. Two of them were transferred from non-duty hospitals. Additionally, four others are hospitalized at Red Cross Hospital.
All 12 injured protesters are out of danger. Most suffered burns from Molotov cocktails, while others sustained respiratory issues and injuries.
Stones Thrown Again in Syntagma Square
Minor clashes erupt once more in Syntagma Square, as young protesters throw stones at the Parliament.
The Hellenic Railways and Aviation Safety Investigation Agency (EODASAM) has released its final conclusions regarding the tragic train accident in Tempi, which occurred on the night of February 28, 2023. The report provides a detailed account of what transpired, attributing primary responsibility to the inexperienced stationmaster at Larissa, who failed to correctly set the track switches, directing the passenger train onto the wrong track.
Despite the complex nature of train control information, the stationmaster’s failure to follow proper procedures was the key factor in the collision. The investigation also raises concerns about the insufficient training of newly hired staff and the use of both manual and automated systems for controlling train routes, which ultimately contributed to the disaster. While the report emphasizes human error as the main cause, it also calls for further inquiries into sensitive aspects of the incident, such as the explosion and fireball, as well as the actions taken after the crash.
Limited clashes in Thessaloniki Train Station as well.
Anti-riot police (MAT) conducted an operation at Syntagma and removed the troublemakers in front of the Parliament.
At least 15 fainting episodes – panic attacks at Syntagma.
By order of the President of the Parliament, ordinary citizens who were at the scene of the incidents in Syntagma or felt discomfort from tear gas were allowed into the building for protection.
They set fire to the guard booth of the changing officer at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The rally in Athens.
The rally in Lesvos.
Huge rally in Thessaloniki.
The rally in Ioannina.
Medical students of the University of Thessaly wrote the names of the 57 dead in front of the Larissa courthouse.
Change of Guard to the Monument to the Unknown Soldier while the rally at Syntagma.
28 arrests in Patras after police operation at former branch of the University of Patras.
People gather in Eleftherias Square in Heraklion, Crete:
The poster for the rallies throughout Greece.
The gathering in Thessaloniki at the Venizelos Statue.
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