Violent protests erupt in Greece on anniversary of deadly train crash

A protest over the Greek government's response to the nation's largest-ever train crash turned violent on Friday as scores of youths hurled rocks and gasoline bombs at police.

Following hours of peaceful rallies in the Greek capital, youths with hammers smashed paving stones, throwing the rubble and makeshift firebombs at police who responded with tear gas.

Clashes also broke out in Greece's second city, Thessaloniki, where a giant crowd choked the centre and people released black balloons into the sky in memory of the dead.

More than 80 people were detained and five were injured in Athens alone, authorities said.

The protests - among the largest since the country's debt crisis more than a decade ago - have been fueled by public resentment against the conservative government's perceived inaction.

Critics say that politicians should be held accountable for failures that led up to the crash, but so far only rail officials have been charged with any crimes.

"The government hasn't done anything to get justice," said Christos Main, 57, a musician at the Athens rally. "This wasn't an accident, it was murder," he said.

In one of the biggest protests in Greece in years, public services and many private businesses were brought to a halt and people poured into the streets of cities and towns chanting "murderers" against what they say is the state's role in the disaster. The government denies wrongdoing.

Rail unions say the network has been poorly maintained despite rail service upgrades to provide faster trains in recent years.

The 2023 train disaster in Tempe saw a passenger train collide head-on with an oncoming freight train.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.