Spanish police disperse protesters demanding minister's resignation after train crash

Spanish police used batons and pepper spray to disperse a protest outside the Transport Ministry in Madrid. More than 1,000 people demanded the resignation of Minister Óscar Puente after a collision between two high-speed trains killed 68 people, while the minister rejected calls to resign.

Spanish riot police dispersed a protest outside the Transport Ministry in the capital Madrid on Wednesday evening. The protesters demanded the resignation of Transport Minister Óscar Puente over the collision between two high-speed trains near the town of Urda in Toledo province, which killed 68 people.

More than 1,000 people gathered near the ministry, Europe Press reported. The protesters chanted slogans including “Not one more death on our tracks” and “Óscar Puente, minister of death,” along with chants against Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

Batons, pepper spray and tear gas

Police intervened at around 20:30 local time after protesters threw flares and objects at officers, using batons, pepper spray and tear gas. A helicopter flew over the area as smoke spread through nearby streets. Europe Press reported that the protest was dispersed at around 21:30.

The protest, called by a trade union and youth organizations, was attended by members of the far-right Vox party.

Minister rejects resignation

Puente ruled out resigning, explaining that a failure in the LZB system occurred at around 8:30 a.m. and affected approximately 63 kilometers of track. The failure disrupted communications with several computers, before Adif’s control center took over traffic management and authorized one of the trains to continue. “We are completely devastated,” he said.

Meanwhile, the CSIF public employees’ union called for the minister’s resignation, accusing him of turning Adif’s traffic controller into a “scapegoat” while the investigation had only just begun. Vox filed a complaint against Adif officials on charges of involuntary manslaughter.

Three days of national mourning

Spain is observing three days of national mourning through October 31. It is the country’s second high-speed train disaster this year, following the January accident in Adamuz that killed 45 people.

Spanish police disperse protesters demanding minister's resignation after train crash