68 killed in Spain train collision; protesters clash with police in Madrid

Anger against the government has erupted in Spain after two high-speed trains collided, killing 68 people. Hundreds of people took to the streets of Madrid on Wednesday night. The protest turned violent, with demonstrators throwing bottles and firecrackers at police. Police used tear gas to bring the situation under control and dispersed the crowd.

More than a thousand people protested against the government in Madrid, according to Spanish news agency EFE. The protest was led by right-wing groups. Demonstrators demanded that responsibility for railway safety be fixed. They called for the resignation of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Transport Minister Oscar Puente, and some shouted sharp slogans against the transport minister.

The protest was organised by organisations such as the right-wing party Falange and Revuelta. Separately, Solidaridad, an organisation linked to Vox, held its own demonstration.

Tension rose when some protesters tried to break through the police cordon. Police fired tear gas shells to stop them. Angered protesters then threw empty bottles and firecrackers at the police. Finally, police used light force to clear the crowd.

The accident took place on Wednesday morning near the town of Urda, south of Madrid. According to Spanish public broadcaster RTVE, a train of the state-owned rail company Renfe hit a train standing on the tracks of the private company Iryo. The accident killed 68 people and injured more than 180.

High-speed trains run at more than 200 km per hour, which made the collision extremely severe. Preliminary information points to a suspected fault in the railway's safety system. It is also reported that a control centre had allowed one train to move again, leading to the crash. However, the actual cause will be clear only after an official investigation.

An earlier train accident near Adamuz in January had killed 46 people in Spain. Questions are therefore being raised about railway safety after the latest accident. Protesters have demanded that responsibility for the accident be fixed and that firm steps be taken to ensure passenger safety.